Polynomial-Time Algorithms for the Longest Induced Path and Induced Disjoint Paths Problems on Graphs of Bounded Mim-Width

We give the first polynomial-time algorithms on graphs of bounded maximum induced matching width (mim-width) for problems that are not locally checkable. In particular, we give n^O(w)-time algorithms on graphs of mim-width at most w, when given a decomposition, for the following problems: Longest Induced Path, Induced Disjoint Paths and H-Induced Topological Minor for fixed H. Our results imply that the following graph classes have polynomial-time algorithms for these three problems: Interval and Bi-Interval graphs, Circular Arc, Per- mutation and Circular Permutation graphs, Convex graphs, k-Trapezoid, Circular k-Trapezoid, k-Polygon, Dilworth-k and Co-k-Degenerate graphs for fixed k

Mim-Width II. The Feedback Vertex Set Problem

Under embargo until: 2020-07-18We give a first polynomial-time algorithm for (WEIGHTED) FEEDBACK VERTEX SET on graphs of bounded maximum induced matching width (mim-width). Explicitly, given a branch decomposition of mim-width w, we give an nO(w)-time algorithm that solves FEEDBACK VERTEX SET. This provides a unified polynomial-time algorithm for many well-known classes, such as INTERVAL graphs, PERMUTATION graphs, and LEAF POWER graphs (given a leaf root), and furthermore, it gives the first polynomial-time algorithms for other classes of bounded mim-width, such as CIRCULAR PERMUTATION and CIRCULAR k-TRAPEZOID graphs (given a circular k-trapezoid model) for fixed k. We complement our result by showing that FEEDBACK VERTEX SET is W[1]-hard when parameterized by w and the hardness holds even when a linear branch decomposition of mim-width w is given.acceptedVersio

Linear-Time Algorithms for Maximum-Weight Induced Matchings and Minimum Chain Covers in Convex Bipartite Graphs

A bipartite graph $G=(U,V,E)$ is convex if the vertices in $V$ can be linearly ordered such that for each vertex $u\in U$, the neighbors of $u$ are consecutive in the ordering of $V$. An induced matching $H$ of $G$ is a matching such that no edge of $E$ connects endpoints of two different edges of $H$. We show that in a convex bipartite graph with $n$ vertices and $m$ weighted edges, an induced matching of maximum total weight can be computed in $O(n+m)$ time. An unweighted convex bipartite graph has a representation of size $O(n)$ that records for each vertex $u\in U$ the first and last neighbor in the ordering of $V$. Given such a compact representation, we compute an induced matching of maximum cardinality in $O(n)$ time. In convex bipartite graphs, maximum-cardinality induced matchings are dual to minimum chain covers. A chain cover is a covering of the edge set by chain subgraphs, that is, subgraphs that do not contain induced matchings of more than one edge. Given a compact representation, we compute a representation of a minimum chain cover in $O(n)$ time. If no compact representation is given, the cover can be computed in $O(n+m)$ time. All of our algorithms achieve optimal running time for the respective problem and model. Previous algorithms considered only the unweighted case, and the best algorithm for computing a maximum-cardinality induced matching or a minimum chain cover in a convex bipartite graph had a running time of $O(n^2)$

A Unified Polynomial-Time Algorithm for Feedback Vertex Set on Graphs of Bounded Mim-Width

We give a first polynomial-time algorithm for (Weighted) Feedback Vertex Set on graphs of bounded maximum induced matching width (mim-width). Explicitly, given a branch decomposition of mim-width w, we give an n^{O(w)}-time algorithm that solves Feedback Vertex Set. This provides a unified algorithm for many well-known classes, such as Interval graphs and Permutation graphs, and furthermore, it gives the first polynomial-time algorithms for other classes of bounded mim-width, such as Circular Permutation and Circular k-Trapezoid graphs for fixed k. In all these classes the decomposition is computable in polynomial time, as shown by Belmonte and Vatshelle [Theor. Comput. Sci. 2013]. We show that powers of graphs of tree-width w-1 or path-width w and powers of graphs of clique-width w have mim-width at most w. These results extensively provide new classes of bounded mim-width. We prove a slight strengthening of the first statement which implies that, surprisingly, Leaf Power graphs which are of importance in the field of phylogenetic studies have mim-width at most 1. Given a tree decomposition of width w-1, a path decomposition of width w, or a clique-width w-expression of a graph G, one can for any value of k find a mim-width decomposition of its k-power in polynomial time, and apply our algorithm to solve Feedback Vertex Set on the k-power in time n^{O(w)}. In contrast to Feedback Vertex Set, we show that Hamiltonian Cycle is NP-complete even on graphs of linear mim-width 1, which further hints at the expressive power of the mim-width parameter

On the approximability of the maximum induced matching problem

In this paper we consider the approximability of the maximum induced matching problem (MIM). We give an approximation algorithm with asymptotic performance ratio <i>d</i>-1 for MIM in <i>d</i>-regular graphs, for each <i>d</i>≥3. We also prove that MIM is APX-complete in <i>d</i>-regular graphs, for each <i>d</i>≥3

On the asymptotics of dimers on tori

We study asymptotics of the dimer model on large toric graphs. Let $\mathbb L$ be a weighted $\mathbb{Z}^2$-periodic planar graph, and let $\mathbb{Z}^2 E$ be a large-index sublattice of $\mathbb{Z}^2$. For $\mathbb L$ bipartite we show that the dimer partition function on the quotient $\mathbb{L}/(\mathbb{Z}^2 E)$ has the asymptotic expansion $\exp[A f_0 + \text{fsc} + o(1)]$, where $A$ is the area of $\mathbb{L}/(\mathbb{Z}^2 E)$, $f_0$ is the free energy density in the bulk, and $\text{fsc}$ is a finite-size correction term depending only on the conformal shape of the domain together with some parity-type information. Assuming a conjectural condition on the zero locus of the dimer characteristic polynomial, we show that an analogous expansion holds for $\mathbb{L}$ non-bipartite. The functional form of the finite-size correction differs between the two classes, but is universal within each class. Our calculations yield new information concerning the distribution of the number of loops winding around the torus in the associated double-dimer models.Comment: 48 pages, 18 figure

Examples, Counterexamples, and Enumeration Results for Foldings and Unfoldings between Polygons and Polytopes

We investigate how to make the surface of a convex polyhedron (a polytope) by folding up a polygon and gluing its perimeter shut, and the reverse process of cutting open a polytope and unfolding it to a polygon. We explore basic enumeration questions in both directions: Given a polygon, how many foldings are there? Given a polytope, how many unfoldings are there to simple polygons? Throughout we give special attention to convex polygons, and to regular polygons. We show that every convex polygon folds to an infinite number of distinct polytopes, but that their number of combinatorially distinct gluings is polynomial. There are, however, simple polygons with an exponential number of distinct gluings. In the reverse direction, we show that there are polytopes with an exponential number of distinct cuttings that lead to simple unfoldings. We establish necessary conditions for a polytope to have convex unfoldings, implying, for example, that among the Platonic solids, only the tetrahedron has a convex unfolding. We provide an inventory of the polytopes that may unfold to regular polygons, showing that, for n>6, there is essentially only one class of such polytopes.Comment: 54 pages, 33 figure