arXiv subjects

Jack Spalding-Jamieson

Publications and source records attributed to Jack Spalding-Jamieson.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

On Eigenvalue Bounds for Bounded Genus Graphs and Minor-Free Graphs

In this paper, we resolve a 30-year-old conjecture of Spielman and Teng concerning the performance of the spectral partitioning method on graphs embeddable on an orientable surface of genus $g$. In particular, for such a graph $G$ with $n$ vertices and maximum degree $Δ$, we show that the second-smallest eigenvalue of its Laplacian matrix satisfies $λ_2(L_G)\lesssimΔ\frac g n$. We also obtain an improved eigenvalue bound for $K_h$-minor-free graphs of $λ_2(L_G)\lesssimΔ\frac{h^2(\log h)^2}n$. In fact, our results directly prove much stronger results for reweighted eigenvalues, including higher reweighted eigenvalues. As a consequence, we obtain bounds not just on Laplacian eigenvalues, but also on normalized Laplacian eigenvalues and Steklov eigenvalues. Our results for genus-$g$ graphs are optimal for all of these kinds of eigenvalues, while our results for $K_h$-minor-free graphs are optimal up to $\log(h)$ factors. Our techniques for genus-$g$ graphs bootstrap bounded-degree bounds of normalized eigenvalues for entire classes to bounds for reweighted eigenvalues for the same classes without the bounded-degree limitation, while our techniques for $K_h$-minor-free graphs generalize an argument of Korhonen and Lokshtanov, making use of the Lovász local lemma.

math.CO↗

arXiv2026

A Fast Approximation Algorithm for the Minimum Balanced Vertex Separator in a Graph

We present a family of fast pseudo-approximation algorithms for the minimum balanced vertex separator problem in a graph. Given a graph $G=(V,E)$ with $n$ vertices and $m$ edges, and a (constant) balance parameter $c\in(0,1/2)$, where $G$ has some (unknown) $c$-balanced vertex separator of size ${\rm OPT}_c$, we give a (Monte-Carlo randomized) algorithm running in $O(n^{O(\varepsilon)}m^{1+o(1)})$ time that produces a $Θ(1)$-balanced vertex separator of size $O({\rm OPT}_c\cdot\sqrt{(\log n)/\varepsilon})$ for any value $\varepsilon\in[Θ(1/\log(n)),Θ(1)]$. In particular, for any function $f(n)=ω(1)$ (including $f(n)=\log\log n$, for instance), we can produce a vertex separator of size $O({\rm OPT}_c\cdot\sqrt{\log n}\cdot f(n))$ in time $O(m^{1+o(1)})$. Moreover, for an arbitrarily small constant $\varepsilon=Θ(1)$, our algorithm also achieves the best-known approximation ratio for this problem in $O(m^{1+Θ(\varepsilon)})$ time. The algorithms are based on a semidefinite programming (SDP) relaxation of the problem, which we solve using the Matrix Multiplicative Weight Update (MMWU) framework of Arora and Kale. Our oracle for MMWU uses $O(n^{O(\varepsilon)}\text{polylog}(n))$ almost-linear time maximum-flow computations, and would be sped up if the time complexity of maximum-flow improves.

cs.DS↗

arXiv2026

Subquadratic Approximation Algorithms for Separating Two Points with Objects in the Plane

The (unweighted) point-separation problem asks, given a pair of points $s$ and $t$ in the plane, and a set of candidate geometric objects, for the minimum-size subset of objects whose union blocks all paths from $s$ to $t$. Recent work has shown that the point-separation problem can be characterized as a type of shortest-path problem in a geometric intersection graph within a special lifted space. However, all known solutions to this problem essentially reduce to some form of APSP, and hence take at least quadratic time, even for special object types. We improve the conditional quadratic lower bounds for this problem, but our main results are positive: We bypass this barrier by providing subquadratic algorithms to produce solutions of size $\text{OPT}+1$ or $(1+\varepsilon)\text{OPT}+1$. Our algorithms are fundamentally different from the APSP-based approach. In particular, we give Monte Carlo randomized additive $+1$ approximation algorithms running in $\widetilde{\mathcal{O}}(n^{\frac32})$ time for disks, axis-aligned line segments and constant-complexity rectilinear polylines, and $\widetilde{\mathcal{O}}(n^{\frac{11}6})$ time for line segments and constant-complexity polylines. We will also give deterministic multiplicative-additive approximation algorithms that, for any value $\varepsilon>0$, guarantee a solution of size $(1+\varepsilon)\text{OPT}+1$ while running in $\widetilde{\mathcal{O}}\left(n/\varepsilon\right)$ time for disks, axis-aligned line segments and constant-complexity rectilinear polylines, and $\widetilde{\mathcal{O}}\left(n^{4/3}/\varepsilon\right)$ time for line segments and constant-complexity polylines.

cs.CG↗

arXiv2026

The Presort Hierarchy for Geometric Problems

Many fundamental problems in computational geometry admit no algorithm running in $o(n \log n)$ time for $n$ planar input points, via classical reductions from sorting. Prominent examples include the computation of convex hulls, quadtrees, onion layer decompositions, Euclidean minimum spanning trees, KD-trees, Voronoi diagrams, and decremental closest-pair. A classical result shows that, given $n$ points sorted along a single direction, the convex hull can be constructed in linear time. Subsequent works established that for all of the other above problems, this information does not suffice. In 1989, Aggarwal, Guibas, Saxe, and Shor asked: Under which conditions can a Voronoi diagram be computed in $o(n \log n)$ time? Since then, the question of whether sorting along TWO directions enables a $o(n \log n)$-time algorithm for such problems has remained open and has been repeatedly mentioned in the literature. In this paper, we introduce the Presort Hierarchy: A problem is 1-Presortable if, given a sorting along one axis, it permits a (possibly randomised) $o(n \log n)$-time algorithm. It is 2-Presortable if sortings along both axes suffice. It is Presort-Hard otherwise. Our main result is that quadtrees, and by extension Delaunay triangulations, Voronoi diagrams, and Euclidean minimum spanning trees, are 2-Presortable: we present an algorithm with expected running time $O(n \sqrt{\log n})$. This addresses the longstanding open problem posed by Aggarwal, Guibas, Saxe, and Shor (albeit randomised). We complement this result by showing that some of the other above geometric problems are also 2-Presortable or Presort-Hard.

cs.CG↗

arXiv2025

Reweighted Spectral Partitioning Works: A Simple Algorithm for Vertex Separators in Special Graph Classes

We establish that a simple polynomial-time algorithm that we call reweighted spectral partitioning obtains small 2/3-balanced vertex-separators for a number of graph classes, including $O(\sqrt{n})$-sized separators for planar graphs, $O(\min\{(\log g)^2,\logΔ\}\cdot\sqrt{gn})$-sized separators for genus-$g$ graphs of maximum degree $Δ$, and $O(\min\{\log h,\sqrt{\logΔ}\}(h\log h\log\log h)\sqrt{n})$-sized separators for $K_h$-minor-free graphs of maximum degree $Δ$. To accomplish this, we first obtain a refined form of a Cheeger-style inequality relating the vertex expansion of a graph and the solution to a semidefinite program defined over the graph. Then, to obtain the guarantees for specific graph classes, we derive direct bounds on the value of the semidefinite program. We also obtain several other results of independent interest, including an improved separator theorem for the intersection graphs of $d$-dimensional balls with bounded ply, a new bound on the Fiedler value of genus-$g$ graphs, and a new "spectral" proof of the planar separator theorem.

cs.DS↗

arXiv2025

Separating Two Points with Obstacles in the Plane: Improved Upper and Lower Bounds

Given two points in the plane, and a set of "obstacles" given as curves through the plane with assigned weights, we consider the point-separation problem, which asks for the minimum-weight subset of the obstacles separating the two points. A few computational models for this problem have been previously studied. We give a unified approach to this problem in all models via a reduction to a particular shortest-path problem, and obtain improved running times in essentially all cases. In addition, we also give fine-grained lower bounds for many cases.

cs.CG↗

arXiv2025

The Analytic Arc Cover Problem and its Applications to Contiguous Art Gallery, Polygon Separation, and Shape Carving

We show the following problems are in $\textsf{P}$: 1. The contiguous art gallery problem -- a variation of the art gallery problem where each guard can protect a contiguous interval along the boundary of a simple polygon. This was posed at the open problem session at CCCG '24 by Thomas C. Shermer. 2. The polygon separation problem for line segments -- For two sets of line segments $S_1$ and $S_2$, find a minimum-vertex convex polygon $P$ that completely contains $S_1$ and does not contain or cross any segment of $S_2$. 3. Minimizing the number of half-plane cuts to carve a 3D polytope. To accomplish this, we study the analytic arc cover problem -- an interval set cover problem over the unit circle with infinitely many implicitly-defined arcs, given by a function.

cs.CG↗

arXiv2025

Slant/Gokigen Naname is NP-complete, and Some Variations are in P

In this paper we show that a generalized version of the Nikoli puzzle Slant is NP-complete. We also give polynomial time algorithms for versions of the puzzle where some constraints are omitted. These problems correspond to simultaneously satisfying connectivity and vertex degree constraints in a grid graph and its dual.

cs.DM↗

arXiv2025

Scalable k-Means Clustering for Large k via Seeded Approximate Nearest-Neighbor Search

For very large values of $k$, we consider methods for fast $k$-means clustering of massive datasets with $10^7\sim10^9$ points in high-dimensions ($d\geq100$). All current practical methods for this problem have runtimes at least $Ω(k^2)$. We find that initialization routines are not a bottleneck for this case. Instead, it is critical to improve the speed of Lloyd's local-search algorithm, particularly the step that reassigns points to their closest center. Attempting to improve this step naturally leads us to leverage approximate nearest-neighbor search methods, although this alone is not enough to be practical. Instead, we propose a family of problems we call "Seeded Approximate Nearest-Neighbor Search", for which we propose "Seeded Search-Graph" methods as a solution.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2024

Morphing Planar Graph Drawings via Orthogonal Box Drawings

We give an algorithm to morph planar graph drawings that achieves small grid size at the expense of allowing a constant number of bends on each edge. The input is an $n$-vertex planar graph and two planar straight-line drawings of the graph on an $O(n) \times O(n)$ grid. The planarity-preserving morph is composed of $O(n)$ linear morphs between successive pairs of drawings, each on an $O(n) \times O(n)$ grid with a constant number of bends per edge. The algorithm to compute the morph runs in $O(n^2)$ time on a word RAM model with standard arithmetic operations -- in particular no square roots or cube roots are required. The first step of the algorithm is to morph each input drawing to a planar orthogonal box drawing where vertices are represented by boxes and each edge is drawn as a horizontal or vertical segment. The second step is to morph between planar orthogonal box drawings. This is done by extending known techniques for morphing planar orthogonal drawings with point vertices.

cs.CG↗

arXiv2024

Carving Polytopes with Saws in 3D

We investigate the problem of carving an $n$-face triangulated three-dimensional polytope using a tool to make cuts modelled by either a half-plane or sweeps from an infinite ray. In the case of half-planes cuts, we present a deterministic algorithm running in $O(n^2)$ time and a randomized algorithm running in $O(n^{3/2+\varepsilon})$ expected time for any $\varepsilon>0$. In the case of cuts defined by sweeps of infinite rays, we present an algorithm running in $O(n^5)$ time.

cs.CG↗

arXiv2023

Conflict Optimization for Binary CSP Applied to Minimum Partition into Plane Subgraphs and Graph Coloring

CG:SHOP is an annual geometric optimization challenge and the 2022 edition proposed the problem of coloring a certain geometric graph defined by line segments. Surprisingly, the top three teams used the same technique, called conflict optimization. This technique has been introduced in the 2021 edition of the challenge, to solve a coordinated motion planning problem. In this paper, we present the technique in the more general framework of binary constraint satisfaction problems (binary CSP). Then, the top three teams describe their different implementations of the same underlying strategy. We evaluate the performance of those implementations to vertex color not only geometric graphs, but also other types of graphs.

cs.CG↗

arXiv2021

Coordinated Motion Planning Through Randomized k-Opt

This paper examines the approach taken by team gitastrophe in the CG:SHOP 2021 challenge. The challenge was to find a sequence of simultaneous moves of square robots between two given configurations that minimized either total distance travelled or makespan (total time). Our winning approach has two main components: an initialization phase that finds a good initial solution, and a $k$-opt local search phase which optimizes this solution. This led to a first place finish in the distance category and a third place finish in the makespan category.

cs.CG↗

arXiv2020

Angle Covers: Algorithms and Complexity

Consider a graph with a rotation system, namely, for every vertex, a circular ordering of the incident edges. Given such a graph, an angle cover maps every vertex to a pair of consecutive edges in the ordering -- an angle -- such that each edge participates in at least one such pair. We show that any graph of maximum degree 4 admits an angle cover, give a poly-time algorithm for deciding if a graph with no degree-3 vertices has an angle-cover, and prove that, given a graph of maximum degree 5, it is NP-hard to decide whether it admits an angle cover. We also consider extensions of the angle cover problem where every vertex selects a fixed number $a>1$ of angles or where an angle consists of more than two consecutive edges. We show an application of angle covers to the problem of deciding if the 2-blowup of a planar graph has isomorphic thickness 2.

cs.CG↗