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Optimal pebbling of grids

Abstract

A pebbling move on a graph removes two pebbles at a vertex and adds one pebble at an adjacent vertex. Rubbling is a version of pebbling where an additional move is allowed. In this new move, one pebble each is removed at vertices vv and ww adjacent to a vertex uu, and an extra pebble is added at vertex uu. A vertex is reachable from a pebble distribution if it is possible to move a pebble to that vertex using rubbling moves. The optimal pebbling (rubbling) number is the smallest number mm needed to guarantee a pebble distribution of mm pebbles from which any vertex is reachable using pebbling (rubbling) moves. We determine the optimal rubbling number of ladders (PnP2P_n\square P_2), prisms (CnP2C_n\square P_2) and M\"oblus-ladders. We also give upper and lower bounds for the optimal pebbling and rubbling numbers of large grids (PnPnP_n\square P_n)

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