arXiv subjects

Florian Lehner

Publications and source records attributed to Florian Lehner.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

A note on classes of subgraphs of locally finite graphs

We investigate the question how `small' a graph can be, if it contains all members of a given class of locally finite graphs as subgraphs or induced subgraphs. More precisely, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a connected, locally finite graph $H$ containing all elements of a graph class $\mathcal G$. These conditions imply that such a graph $H$ exists for the class $\mathcal G_d$ consisting of all graphs with maximum degree $<d$ which raises the question whether in this case $H$ can be chosen to have bounded maximum degree. We show that this is not the case, thereby answering a question recently posed by Huynh et al.

math.CO↗

arXiv2022

Self-avoiding walks and multiple context-free languages

Let $G$ be a quasi-transitive, locally finite, connected graph rooted at a vertex $o$, and let $c_n(o)$ be the number of self-avoiding walks of length $n$ on $G$ starting at $o$. We show that if $G$ has only thin ends, then the generating function $F_{\mathrm{SAW},o}(z)=\sum_{n \geq 0} c_n(o) z^n$ is an algebraic function. In particular, the connective constant of such a graph is an algebraic number. If $G$ is deterministically edge labelled, that is, every (directed) edge carries a label such that any two edges starting at the same vertex have different labels, then the set of all words which can be read along the edges of self-avoiding walks starting at $o$ forms a language denoted by $L_{\mathrm{SAW},o}$. Assume that the group of label-preserving graph automorphisms acts quasi-transitively. We show that $L_{\mathrm{SAW},o}$ is a $k$-multiple context-free language if and only if the size of all ends of $G$ is at most $2k$. Applied to Cayley graphs of finitely generated groups this says that $L_{\mathrm{SAW},o}$ is multiple context-free if and only if the group is virtually free.

math.CO↗

arXiv2022

Universal planar graphs for the topological minor relation

Huynh et al. recently showed that a countable graph $G$ which contains every countable planar graph as a subgraph must contain arbitrarily large finite complete graphs as topological minors, and an infinite complete graph as a minor. We strengthen this result by showing that the same conclusion holds, if $G$ contains every countable planar graph as a topological minor. In particular, there is no countable planar graph containing every countable planar graph as a topological minor, answering a question by Diestel and Kühn. Moreover, we construct a locally finite planar graph which contains every locally finite planar graph as a topological minor. This shows that in the above result it is not enough to require that $G$ contains every locally finite planar graph as a topological minor.

math.CO↗

arXiv2021

Comparing consecutive letter counts in multiple context-free languages

Context-free grammars are not able to model cross-serial dependencies in natural languages. To overcome this issue, Seki et al. introduced a generalization called $m$-multiple context-free grammars ($m$-MCFGs), which deal with $m$-tuples of strings. We show that $m$-MCFGs are capable of comparing the number of consecutive occurrences of at most $2m$ different letters. In particular, the language $\{a_1^{n_1} a_2^{n_2} \dots a_{k}^{n_{2m+1}} \mid n_1 \geq n_2 \geq \dots \geq n_{2m+1} \geq 0\}$ is $(m+1)$-multiple context-free, but not $m$-multiple context-free.

cs.FL↗

arXiv2020

On fixity of arc-transitive graphs

The relative fixity of a permutation group is the maximum proportion of the points fixed by a non-trivial element of the group and the relative fixity of a graph is the relative fixity of its automorphism group, viewed as a permutation group on the vertex-set of the graph. We prove in this paper that the relative fixity of connected $2$-arc-transitive graphs of a fixed valence tends to $0$ as the number of vertices grows to infinity. We prove the same result for the class of arc-transitive graphs of a fixed prime valence, and more generally, for any class of arc-transitive locally-$L$ graphs, where $L$ is a fixed quasiprimitive graph-restrictive permutation group.

math.CO↗

arXiv2020

On asymmetric colourings of graphs with bounded degrees and infinite motion

A vertex colouring of a graph is called asymmetric if the only automorphism which preserves it is the identity. Tucker conjectured that if every automorphism of a connected, locally finite graph moves infinitely many vertices, then there is an asymmetric colouring with $2$ colours. We make progress on this conjecture in the special case of graphs with bounded maximal degree. More precisely, we prove that if every automorphism of a connected graph with maximal degree $Δ$ moves infinitely many vertices, then there is an asymmetric colouring using $\mathcal O(\sqrt Δ\log Δ)$ colours. This is the first improvement over the trivial bound of $\mathcal O(Δ)$.

math.CO↗

arXiv2020

Hamiltonian decompositions of 4-regular Cayley graphs of infinite abelian groups

A well-known conjecture of Alspach says that every $2k$-regular Cayley graph of an abelian group can be decomposed into Hamiltonian cycles. We consider an analogous question for infinite abelian groups. In this setting one natural analogue of a Hamiltonian cycle is a spanning double-ray. However, a naive generalisation of Alspach's conjecture fails to hold in this setting due to the existence of $2k$-regular Cayley graphs with finite cuts $F$ where $|F|$ and $k$ differ in parity, which necessarily preclude the existence of a decomposition into spanning double-rays. We show that every $4$-regular Cayley graph of an infinite abelian group all of whose finite cuts are even can be decomposed into spanning double-rays, and so characterise when such decompositions exist. We also characterise when such graphs can be decomposed either into Hamiltonian circles, a more topological generalisation of a Hamiltonian cycle in infinite graphs, or into a Hamiltonian circle and a spanning double-ray.

math.CO↗

arXiv2020

Counterexamples to "A Conjecture on Induced Subgraphs of Cayley Graphs" [arXiv:2003.13166]

Recently, Huang gave a very elegant proof of the Sensitivity Conjecture by proving that hypercube graphs have the following property: every induced subgraph on a set of more than half its vertices has maximum degree at least $\sqrt{d}$, where $d$ is the valency of the hypercube. This was generalised by Alon and Zheng who proved that every Cayley graph on an elementary abelian $2$-group has the same property. Very recently, Potechin and Tsang proved an analogous results for Cayley graphs on abelian groups. They also conjectured that all Cayley graphs have the analogous property. We disprove this conjecture by constructing various counterexamples, including an infinite family of Cayley graphs of unbounded valency which admit an induced subgraph of maximum valency $1$ on a set of more than half its vertices.

math.CO↗

arXiv2020

A bound for the distinguishing index of regular graphs

An edge-colouring of a graph is distinguishing, if the only automorphism which preserves the colouring is the identity. It has been conjectured that all but finitely many connected, finite, regular graphs admit a distinguishing edge-colouring with two colours. We show that all such graphs except $K_2$ admit a distinguishing edge-colouring with three colours. This result also extends to infinite, locally finite graphs. Furthermore, we are able to show that there are arbitrary large infinite cardinals $κ$ such that every connected $κ$-regular graph has distinguishing edge-colouring with two colours.

math.CO↗

arXiv2020

Distinguishing numbers of finite $4$-valent vertex-transitive graphs

The distinguishing number of a graph $G$ is the smallest $k$ such that $G$ admits a $k$-colouring for which the only colour-preserving automorphism of $G$ is the identity. We determine the distinguishing number of finite $4$-valent vertex-transitive graphs. We show that, apart from one infinite family and finitely many examples, they all have distinguishing number $2$.

math.CO↗

arXiv2020

On the cop number of toroidal graphs

We show that the cop number of toroidal graphs is at most 3. This resolves a conjecture by Schroeder from 2001 which is implicit in a question by Andreae from 1986.

math.CO↗

arXiv2019

Bounding the cop number of a graph by its genus

It is known that the cop number $c(G)$ of a connected graph $G$ can be bounded as a function of the genus of the graph $g(G)$. The best known bound, that $c(G) \leq \left\lfloor \frac{3 g(G)}{2}\right\rfloor + 3$, was given by Schröder, who conjectured that in fact $c(G) \leq g(G) + 3$. We give the first improvement to Schröder's bound, showing that $c(G) \leq \frac{4g(G)}{3} + \frac{10}{3}$.

math.CO↗

arXiv2019

A Stallings' type theorem for quasi-transitive graphs

We consider infinite connected quasi-transitive locally finite graphs and show that every such graph with more than one end is a tree amalgamation of two other such graphs. This can be seen as a graph-theoretical version of Stallings' splitting theorem for multi-ended finitely generated groups and indeed it implies this theorem. It will also lead to a characterisation of accessible graphs in terms of tree amalgamations. We obtain applications of our results for hyperbolic graphs, planar graphs and graphs without any thick end. The application for planar graphs answers a question of Mohar in the affirmative.

math.CO↗

arXiv2018

Invariant spanning double rays in amenable groups

A well-known result of Benjamini, Lyons, Peres, and Schramm states that if $G$ is a finitely generated Cayley graph of a group $Γ$, then $Γ$ is amenable if and only if $G$ admits a $Γ$-invariant random spanning tree with at most two ends. We show that this is equivalent to the existence of a $Γ$-invariant random spanning double ray in a power of $G$.

math.CO↗

arXiv2018

Distinguishing infinite graphs with bounded degrees

Call a colouring of a graph distinguishing, if the only colour preserving automorphism is the identity. A conjecture of Tucker states that if every automorphism of a graph $G$ moves infinitely many vertices, then there is a distinguishing $2$-colouring. We confirm this conjecture for graphs with maximum degree $Δ\leq 5$. Furthermore, using similar techniques we show that if an infinite graph has maximum degree $Δ\geq 3$, then it admits a distinguishing colouring with $Δ- 1$ colours. This bound is sharp.

math.CO↗

arXiv2018

On symmetries of edge and vertex colourings of graphs

Let $c$ and $c'$ be edge or vertex colourings of a graph $G$. We say that $c'$ is less symmetric than $c$ if the stabiliser (in $\operatorname{Aut} G$) of $c'$ is contained in the stabiliser of $c$. We show that if $G$ is not a bicentred tree, then for every vertex colouring of $G$ there is a less symmetric edge colouring with the same number of colours. On the other hand, if $T$ is a tree, then for every edge colouring there is a less symmetric vertex colouring with the same number of edges. Our results can be used to characterise those graphs whose distinguishing index is larger than their distinguishing number.

math.CO↗

arXiv2018

On tree-decompositions of one-ended graphs

A graph is one-ended if it contains a ray (a one way infinite path) and whenever we remove a finite number of vertices from the graph then what remains has only one component which contains rays. A vertex $v$ {\em dominates} a ray in the end if there are infinitely many paths connecting $v$ to the ray such that any two of these paths have only the vertex $v$ in common. We prove that if a one-ended graph contains no ray which is dominated by a vertex and no infinite family of pairwise disjoint rays, then it has a tree-decomposition such that the decomposition tree is one-ended and the tree-decomposition is invariant under the group of automorphisms. This can be applied to prove a conjecture of Halin from 2000 that the automorphism group of such a graph cannot be countably infinite and solves a recent problem of Boutin and Imrich. Furthermore, it implies that every transitive one-ended graph contains an infinite family of pairwise disjoint rays.

math.CO↗

arXiv2018

Clique trees of infinite locally finite chordal graphs

We investigate clique trees of infinite locally finite chordal graphs. Our main contribution is a bijection between the set of clique trees and the product of local finite families of finite trees. Even more, the edges of a clique tree are in bijection with the edges of the corresponding collection of finite trees. This allows us to enumerate the clique trees of a chordal graph and extend various classic characterisations of clique trees to the infinite setting.

math.CO↗