arXiv subjects

Michael Tait

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Tait.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Large monochromatic components in 3-edge-colored Steiner triple systems

It is known that in any $r$-coloring of the edges of a complete $r$-uniform hypergraph, there exists a spanning monochromatic component. Given a Steiner triple system on $n$ vertices, what is the largest monochromatic component one can guarantee in an arbitrary 3-coloring of the edges? Gyárfás proved that $(2n+3)/3$ is an absolute lower bound and that this lower bound is best possible for infinitely many $n$. On the other hand, we prove that for almost all Steiner triple systems the lower bound is actually $(1-o(1))n$. We obtain this result as a consequence of a more general theorem which shows that the lower bound depends on the size of a largest \emph{3-partite hole} (that is, sets $X_1, X_2, X_3$ with $|X_1|=|X_2|=|X_3|$ such that no edge intersects all of $X_1, X_2, X_3$) in the Steiner triple system (Gyárfás previously observed that the upper bound depends on this parameter). Furthermore, we show that this lower bound is tight unless the coloring has a particular structure. We also suggest a variety of other Ramsey problems in the setting of Steiner triple systems.

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arXiv2019

The spectral radius of graphs with no intersecting triangles

A graph on $2k+1$ vertices consisting of $k$ triangles which intersect in exactly one common vertex is called a $k$-fan and denoted by $F_k$. This paper aims to determine the graphs of order $n$ that have the maximum (adjacency) spectral radius among all graphs containing no $F_k$, for $n$ sufficiently large.

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arXiv2019

Turán numbers of theta graphs

The theta graph $Θ_{\ell,t}$ consists of two vertices joined by $t$ vertex-disjoint paths of length $\ell$ each. For fixed odd $\ell$ and large $t$, we show that the largest graph not containing $Θ_{\ell,t}$ has at most $c_{\ell} t^{1-1/\ell}n^{1+1/\ell}$ edges and that this is tight apart from the value of $c_{\ell}$.

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arXiv2019

Improved Lower Bound for Difference Bases

A difference basis with respect to $n$ is a subset $A \subseteq \mathbb{Z}$ such that $A - A \supseteq \{1, \ldots, n\}$. Rédei and Rényi showed that the minimum size of a difference basis with respect to $n$ is $(c+o(1))\sqrt{n}$ for some positive constant $c$. The best previously known lower bound on $c$ is $c \geqslant 1.5602\ldots$, which was obtained by Leech using a version of an earlier argument due to Rédei and Rényi. In this note we use Fourier-analytic tools to show that the Leech--Rédei--Rényi lower bound is not sharp.

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arXiv2019

Hypergraphs with few Berge paths of fixed length between vertices

In this paper we study the maximum number of hyperedges which may be in an $r$-uniform hypergraph under the restriction that no pair of vertices has more than $t$ Berge paths of length $k$ between them. When $r=t=2$, this is the even-cycle problem asking for $\mathrm{ex}(n, C_{2k})$. We extend results of Füredi and Simonovits and of Conlon, who studied the problem when $r=2$. In particular, we show that for fixed $k$ and $r$, there is a constant $t$ such that the maximum number of edges can be determined in order of magnitude.

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arXiv2019

Sidon sets and 2-caps in $\mathbb{F}_3^n$

For each natural number $d$, we introduce the concept of a $d$-cap in $\mathbb{F}_3^n$. A subset of $\mathbb{F}_3^n$ is called a $d$-cap if, for each $k = 1, 2, \dots, d$, no $k+2$ of the points lie on a $k$-dimensional flat. This generalizes the notion of a cap in $\mathbb{F}_3^n$. We prove that the $2$-caps in $\mathbb{F}_3^n$ are exactly the Sidon sets in $\mathbb{F}_3^n$ and study the problem of determining the size of the largest $2$-cap in $\mathbb{F}_3^n$.

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arXiv2019

The Zarankiewicz problem in 3-partite graphs

Let $F$ be a graph, $k \geq 2$ be an integer, and write $\mathrm{ex}_{ χ\leq k } (n , F)$ for the maximum number of edges in an $n$-vertex graph that is $k$-partite and has no subgraph isomorphic to $F$. The function $\mathrm{ex}_{ χ\leq 2} ( n , F)$ has been studied by many researchers. Finding $\mathrm{ex}_{ χ\leq 2} (n , K_{s,t})$ is a special case of the Zarankiewicz problem. We prove an analogue of the Kövári-Sós-Turán Theorem for 3-partite graphs by showing \[ \mathrm{ex}_{ χ\leq 3} (n , K_{s,t} ) \leq \left( \frac{1}{3} \right)^{1 - 1/s} \left( \frac{ t - 1}{2} + o(1) \right)^{1/s} n^{2 - 1/s} \] for $2 \leq s \leq t$. Using Sidon sets constructed by Bose and Chowla, we prove that this upper bound is asymptotically best possible in the case that $s = 2$ and $t \geq 3$ is odd, i.e., $\mathrm{ex}_{ χ\leq 3} ( n , K_{2,2t+1} ) = \sqrt{ \frac{t}{3}} n^{3/2} + o(n^{3/2})$ for $t \geq 1$. In the cases of $K_{2,t}$ and $K_{3,3}$, we use a result of Allen, Keevash, Sudakov, and Verstraëte, to show that a similar upper bound holds for all $k \geq 3$, and gives a better constant when $s=t=3$. Lastly, we point out an interesting connection between difference families from design theory and $\mathrm{ex}_{ χ\leq 3 } (n ,C_4)$.

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arXiv2018

The Colin de Verdière parameter, excluded minors, and the spectral radius

In this paper we characterize graphs which maximize the spectral radius of their adjacency matrix over all graphs of Colin de Verdière parameter at most $m$. We also characterize graphs of maximum spectral radius with no $H$ as a minor when $H$ is either $K_r$ or $K_{s,t}$. Interestingly, the extremal graphs match those which maximize the number of edges over all graphs with no $H$ as a minor when $r$ and $s$ are small, but not when they are larger.

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arXiv2018

Few $T$ copies in $H$-saturated graphs

A graph is $F$-saturated if it is $F$-free but the addition of any edge creates a copy of $F$. In this paper we study the quantity $\mathrm{sat}(n, H, F)$ which denotes the minimum number of copies of $H$ that an $F$-saturated graph on $n$ vertices may contain. This parameter is a natural saturation analogue of Alon and Shikhelman's generalized Turán problem, and letting $H = K_2$ recovers the well-studied saturation function. We provide a first investigation into this general function focusing on the cases where the host graph is either $K_s$ or $C_k$-saturated. Some representative interesting behavior is: (a) For any natural number $m$, there are graphs $H$ and $F$ such that $\mathrm{sat}(n, H, F) = Θ(n^m)$. (b) For many pairs $k$ and $l$, we show $\mathrm{sat}(n, C_l, C_k) = 0$. In particular, we prove that there exists a triangle-free $C_k$-saturated graph on $n$ vertices for any $k > 4$ and large enough $n$. (c) $\mathrm{sat}(n, K_3, K_4) = n-2$, $\mathrm{sat}(n, C_4, K_4) \sim \frac{n^2}{2}$, and $\mathrm{sat}(n, C_6, K_5) \sim n^3$. We discuss several intriguing problems which remain unsolved.

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arXiv2018

Rainbow numbers for $x_1+x_2=kx_3$ in $\mathbb{Z}_n$

In this work, we investigate the fewest number of colors needed to guarantee a rainbow solution to the equation $x_1 + x_2 = k x_3$ in $\mathbb{Z}_n$. This value is called the Rainbow number and is denoted by $rb(\mathbb{Z}_n, k)$ for positive integer values of $n$ and $k$. We find that $rb(\mathbb{Z}_p, 1) = 4$ for all primes greater than $3$ and that $rb(\mathbb{Z}_n, 1)$ can be deterimined from the prime factorization of $n$. Furthermore, when $k$ is prime, $rb(\mathbb{Z}_n, k)$ can be determined from the prime factorization of $n$.

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arXiv2018

Linearity of Saturation for Berge Hypergraphs

For a graph $F$, we say a hypergraph $H$ is Berge-$F$ if it can be obtained from $F$ be replacing each edge of $F$ with a hyperedge containing it. We say a hypergraph is Berge-$F$-saturated if it does not contain a Berge-$F$, but adding any hyperedge creates a copy of Berge-$F$. The $k$-uniform saturation number of Berge-$F$, $\mathrm{sat}_k(n,\text{Berge-}F)$ is the fewest number of edges in a Berge-$F$-saturated $k$-uniform hypergraph on $n$ vertices. We show that $\mathrm{sat}_k(n,\text{Berge-}F) = O(n)$ for all graphs $F$ and uniformities $3\leq k\leq 5$, partially answering a conjecture of English, Gordon, Graber, Methuku, and Sullivan. We also extend this conjecture to Berge copies of hypergraphs.

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arXiv2018

The maximum relaxation time of a random walk

We show the minimum spectral gap of the normalized Laplacian over all simple, connected graphs on $n$ vertices is $(1+o(1))\tfrac{54}{n^3}$. This minimum is achieved asymptotically by a double kite graph. Consequently, this leads to sharp upper bounds for the maximum relaxation time of a random walk, settling a conjecture of Aldous and Fill. We also improve an eigenvalue-diameter inequality by giving a new lower bound for the spectral gap of the normalized Laplacian. This eigenvalue lower bound is asymptotically best possible.

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arXiv2018

Anti-Ramsey Multiplicities

The Ramsey multiplicity constant of a graph $H$ is the minimum proportion of copies of $H$ in the complete graph which are monochromatic under an edge-coloring of $K_n$ as $n$ goes to infinity. Graphs for which this minimum is asymptotically achieved by taking a random coloring are called {\em common}, and common graphs have been studied extensively, leading to the Burr-Rosta conjecture and Sidorenko's conjecture. Erdős and Sós asked what the maximum number of rainbow triangles is in a $3$-coloring of the edge set of $K_n$, a rainbow version of the Ramsey multiplicity question. A graph $H$ is called $r$-anti-common if the maximum proportion of rainbow copies of $H$ in any $r$-coloring of $E(K_n)$ is asymptotically achieved by taking a random coloring. In this paper, we investigate anti-Ramsey multiplicity for several families of graphs. We determine classes of graphs which are either anti-common or not. Some of these classes follow the same behavior as the monochromatic case, but some of them do not. In particular the rainbow equivalent of Sidorenko's conjecture, that all bipartite graphs are anti-common, is false.

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arXiv2017

On Edge-Colored Saturation Problems

Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a family of edge-colored graphs. A $t$-edge colored graph $G$ is $(\mathcal{C}, t)$-saturated if $G$ does not contain any graph in $\mathcal{C}$ but the addition of any edge in any color in $[t]$ creates a copy of some graph in $\mathcal{C}$. Similarly to classical saturation functions, define $\mathrm{sat}_t(n, \mathcal{C})$ to be the minimum number of edges in a $(\mathcal{C},t)$ saturated graph. Let $\mathcal{C}_r(H)$ be the family consisting of every edge-colored copy of $H$ which uses exactly $r$ colors. In this paper we consider a variety of colored saturation problems. We determine the order of magnitude for $\mathrm{sat}_t(n, \mathcal{C}_r(K_k))$ for all $r$, showing a sharp change in behavior when $r\geq \binom{k-1}{2}+2$. A particular case of this theorem proves a conjecture of Barrus, Ferrara, Vandenbussche, and Wenger. We determine $\mathrm{sat}_t(n, \mathcal{C}_2(K_3))$ exactly and determine the extremal graphs. Additionally, we document some interesting irregularities in the colored saturation function.

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arXiv2017

Induced Turán numbers

The classical Kővári-Sós-Turán theorem states that if $G$ is an $n$-vertex graph with no copy of $K_{s,t}$ as a subgraph, then the number of edges in $G$ is at most $O(n^{2-1/s})$. We prove that if one forbids $K_{s,t}$ as an induced/ subgraph, and also forbids any/ fixed graph $H$ as a (not necessarily induced) subgraph, the same asymptotic upper bound still holds, with different constant factors. This introduces a nontrivial angle from which to generalize Turán theory to induced forbidden subgraphs, which this paper explores. Along the way, we derive a nontrivial upper bound on the number of cliques of fixed order in a $K_r$-free graph with no induced copy of $K_{s,t}$. This result is an induced analog of a recent theorem of Alon and Shikhelman and is of independent interest.

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arXiv2017

A structure theorem for product sets in extra special groups

Hegyvári and Hennecart showed that if $B$ is a sufficiently large brick of a Heisenberg group, then the product set $B\cdot B$ contains many cosets of the center of the group. We give a new, robust proof of this theorem that extends to all extra special groups as well as to a large family of quasigroups.

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arXiv2017

Maximal Planar Subgraphs of Fixed Girth in Random Graphs

In 1991, Bollobás and Frieze showed that the threshold for $G_{n,p}$ to contain a spanning maximal planar subgraph is very close to $p = n^{-1/3}$. In this paper, we compute similar threshold ranges for $G_{n,p}$ to contain a maximal bipartite planar subgraph and for $G_{n,p}$ to contain a maximal planar subgraph of fixed girth $g$.

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arXiv2017

Turán numbers for Berge-hypergraphs and related extremal problems

Let $F$ be a graph. We say that a hypergraph $H$ is a {\it Berge}-$F$ if there is a bijection $f : E(F) \rightarrow E(H )$ such that $e \subseteq f(e)$ for every $e \in E(F)$. Note that Berge-$F$ actually denotes a class of hypergraphs. The maximum number of edges in an $n$-vertex $r$-graph with no subhypergraph isomorphic to any Berge-$F$ is denoted $\ex_r(n,\textrm{Berge-}F)$. In this paper we establish new upper and lower bounds on $\ex_r(n,\textrm{Berge-}F)$ for general graphs $F$, and investigate connections between $\ex_r(n,\textrm{Berge-}F)$ and other recently studied extremal functions for graphs and hypergraphs. One case of specific interest will be when $F = K_{s,t}$. Additionally, we prove a counting result for $r$-graphs of girth five that complements the asymptotic formula $\textup{ex}_3 (n , \textrm{Berge-}\{ C_2 , C_3 , C_4 \} ) = \frac{1}{6} n^{3/2} + o( n^{3/2} )$ of Lazebnik and Verstraëte [{\em Electron.\ J. of Combin}. {\bf 10}, (2003)].

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