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Pat Morin

Publications and source records attributed to Pat Morin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

On $k$-planar Graphs without Short Cycles

We study the impact of forbidding short cycles to the edge density of $k$-planar graphs; a $k$-planar graph is one that can be drawn in the plane with at most $k$ crossings per edge. Specifically, we consider three settings, according to which the forbidden substructures are $3$-cycles, $4$-cycles or both of them (i.e., girth $\ge 5$). For all three settings and all $k\in\{1,2,3\}$, we present lower and upper bounds on the maximum number of edges in any $k$-planar graph on $n$ vertices. Our bounds are of the form $c\,n$, for some explicit constant $c$ that depends on $k$ and on the setting. For general $k \geq 4$ our bounds are of the form $c\sqrt{k}n$, for some explicit constant $c$. These results are obtained by leveraging different techniques, such as the discharging method, the recently introduced density formula for non-planar graphs, and new upper bounds for the crossing number of $2$-- and $3$-planar graphs in combination with corresponding lower bounds based on the Crossing Lemma.

math.CO↗

Patricia's Bad Distributions

The height of a random PATRICIA tree built from independent, identically distributed infinite binary strings with arbitrary diffuse probability distribution $μ$ on $\{0,1\}^\mathbb{N}$ is studied. We show that the expected height grows asymptotically sublinearly in the number of leaves for any such $μ$, but can be made to exceed any specific sublinear growth rate by choosing $μ$ appropriately.

math.PR↗

Bounded-Degree Planar Graphs Do Not Have Bounded-Degree Product Structure

Product structure theorems are a collection of recent results that have been used to resolve a number of longstanding open problems on planar graphs and related graph classes. One particularly useful version states that every planar graph $G$ is contained in the strong product of a $3$-tree $H$, a path $P$, and a $3$-cycle $K_3$; written as $G\subseteq H\boxtimes P\boxtimes K_3$. A number of researchers have asked if this theorem can be strengthened so that the maximum degree in $H$ can be bounded by a function of the maximum degree in $G$. We show that no such strengthening is possible. Specifically, we describe an infinite family $\mathcal{G}$ of planar graphs of maximum degree $5$ such that, if an $n$-vertex member $G$ of $\mathcal{G}$ is isomorphic to a subgraph of $H\boxtimes P\boxtimes K_c$ where $P$ is a path and $H$ is a graph of maximum degree $Δ$ and treewidth $t$, then $tΔc \ge 2^{Ω(\sqrt{\log\log n})}$.

math.CO↗

Vertex Ranking of Degenerate Graphs

An $\ell$-vertex-ranking of a graph $G$ is a colouring of the vertices of $G$ with integer colours so that in any connected subgraph $H$ of $G$ with diameter at most $\ell$, there is a vertex in $H$ whose colour is larger than that of every other vertex in $H$. The $\ell$-vertex-ranking number, $χ_{\ell-\mathrm{vr}}(G)$, of $G$ is the minimum integer $k$ such that $G$ has an $\ell$-vertex-ranking using $k$ colours. We prove that, for any fixed $d$ and $\ell$, every $d$-degenerate $n$-vertex graph $G$ satisfies $χ_{\ell-\mathrm{vr}}(G)= O(n^{1-2/(\ell+1)}\log n)$ if $\ell$ is even and $χ_{\ell-\mathrm{vr}}(G)= O(n^{1-2/\ell}\log n)$ if $\ell$ is odd. The case $\ell=2$ resolves (up to the $\log n$ factor) an open problem posed by \citet{karpas.neiman.ea:on} and the cases $\ell\in\{2,3\}$ are asymptotically optimal (up to the $\log n$ factor).

math.CO↗

Linear versus centred chromatic numbers

$\DeclareMathOperator{\chicen}{χ_{\mathrm{cen}}}\DeclareMathOperator{\chilin}{χ_{\mathrm{lin}}}$ A centred colouring of a graph is a vertex colouring in which every connected subgraph contains a vertex whose colour is unique and a \emph{linear colouring} is a vertex colouring in which every (not-necessarily induced) path contains a vertex whose colour is unique. For a graph $G$, the centred chromatic number $\chicen(G)$ and the linear chromatic number $\chilin(G)$ denote the minimum number of distinct colours required for a centred, respectively, linear colouring of $G$. From these definitions, it follows immediately that $\chilin(G)\le \chicen(G)$ for every graph $G$. The centred chromatic number is equivalent to treedepth and has been studied extensively. Much less is known about linear colouring. Kun et al [Algorithmica 83(1)] prove that $\chicen(G) \le \tilde{O}(\chilin(G)^{190})$ for any graph $G$ and conjecture that $\chicen(G)\le 2\chilin(G)$. Their upper bound was subsequently improved by Czerwinski et al [SIDMA 35(2)] to $\chicen(G)\le\tilde{O}(\chilin(G)^{19})$. The proof of both upper bounds relies on establishing a lower bound on the linear chromatic number of pseudogrids, which appear in the proof due to their critical relationship to treewidth. Specifically, Kun et al prove that $k\times k$ pseudogrids have linear chromatic number $Ω(\sqrt{k})$. Our main contribution is establishing a tight bound on the linear chromatic number of pseudogrids, specifically $\chilin(G)\ge Ω(k)$ for every $k\times k$ pseudogrid $G$. As a consequence we improve the general bound for all graphs to $\chicen(G)\le \tilde{O}(\chilin(G)^{10})$. In addition, this tight bound gives further evidence in support of Kun et al's conjecture (above) that the centred chromatic number of any graph is upper bounded by a linear function of its linear chromatic number.

math.CO↗

Product structure extension of the Alon--Seymour--Thomas theorem

Alon, Seymour and Thomas [1990] proved that every $n$-vertex graph excluding $K_t$ as a minor has treewidth less than $t^{3/2}\sqrt{n}$. Illingworth, Scott and Wood [2022] recently refined this result by showing that every such graph is a subgraph of some graph with treewidth $t-2$, where each vertex is blown up by a complete graph of order $O(\sqrt{tn})$. Solving an open problem of Illingworth, Scott and Wood [2022], we prove that the treewidth bound can be reduced to $4$ while keeping blowups of order $O_t(\sqrt{n})$. As an extension of the Lipton--Tarjan theorem, in the case of planar graphs, we show that the treewidth can be further reduced to $2$, which is best possible. We generalise this result for $K_{3,t}$-minor-free graphs, with blowups of order $O(t\sqrt{n})$. This setting includes graphs embeddable on any fixed surface.

math.CO↗

Connected Dominating Sets in Triangulations

We show that every $n$-vertex triangulation has a connected dominating set of size at most $10n/21$. Equivalently, every $n$ vertex triangulation has a spanning tree with at least $11n/21$ leaves. Prior to the current work, the best known bounds were $n/2$, which follows from work of Albertson, Berman, Hutchinson, and Thomassen (J. Graph Theory \textbf{14}(2):247--258). One immediate consequence of this result is an improved bound for the SEFENOMAP graph drawing problem of Angelini, Evans, Frati, and Gudmundsson (J. Graph Theory \textbf{82}(1):45--64). As a second application, we show that for every set $P$ of $\lceil 11n/21\rceil$ points in $\R^2$ every $n$-vertex planar graph has a one-bend non-crossing drawing in which some set of $11n/21$ vertices is drawn on the points of $P$. The main result extends to $n$-vertex triangulations of genus-$g$ surfaces, and implies that these have connected dominating sets of size at most $10n/21+O(\sqrt{gn})$.

math.CO↗

Min-$k$-planar Drawings of Graphs

The study of nonplanar drawings of graphs with restricted crossing configurations is a well-established topic in graph drawing, often referred to as beyond-planar graph drawing. One of the most studied types of drawings in this area are the $k$-planar drawings $(k \geq 1)$, where each edge cannot cross more than $k$ times. We generalize $k$-planar drawings, by introducing the new family of min-$k$-planar drawings. In a min-$k$-planar drawing edges can cross an arbitrary number of times, but for any two crossing edges, one of the two must have no more than $k$ crossings. We prove a general upper bound on the number of edges of min-$k$-planar drawings, a finer upper bound for $k=3$, and tight upper bounds for $k=1,2$. Also, we study the inclusion relations between min-$k$-planar graphs (i.e., graphs admitting min-$k$-planar drawings) and $k$-planar graphs. In our setting we only allow simple drawings, that is, any two edges cross at most once, no two adjacent edges cross, and no three edges intersect at a common crossing point.

cs.CG↗

Sparse universal graphs for planarity

We show that for every integer $n\geq 1$ there exists a graph $G_n$ with $(1+o(1))n$ vertices and $n^{1 + o(1)}$ edges such that every $n$-vertex planar graph is isomorphic to a subgraph of $G_n$. The best previous bound on the number of edges was $O(n^{3/2})$, proved by Babai, Chung, Erdős, Graham, and Spencer in 1982. We then show that for every integer $n\geq 1$ there is a graph $U_n$ with $n^{1 + o(1)}$ vertices and edges that contains induced copies of every $n$-vertex planar graph. This significantly reduces the number of edges in a recent construction of the authors with Dujmović, Gavoille, and Micek.

math.CO↗

The Excluded Tree Minor Theorem Revisited

We prove that for every tree $T$ of radius $h$, there is an integer $c$ such that every $T$-minor-free graph is contained in $H\boxtimes K_c$ for some graph $H$ with pathwidth at most $2h-1$. This is a qualitative strengthening of the Excluded Tree Minor Theorem of Robertson and Seymour (GM I). We show that radius is the right parameter to consider in this setting, and $2h-1$ is the best possible bound.

math.CO↗

Graph product structure for non-minor-closed classes

Dujmović et al. [\emph{J.~ACM}~'20] recently proved that every planar graph is isomorphic to a subgraph of the strong product of a bounded treewidth graph and a path. Analogous results were obtained for graphs of bounded Euler genus or apex-minor-free graphs. These tools have been used to solve longstanding problems on queue layouts, non-repetitive colouring, $p$-centered colouring, and adjacency labelling. This paper proves analogous product structure theorems for various non-minor-closed classes. One noteable example is $k$-planar graphs (those with a drawing in the plane in which each edge is involved in at most $k$ crossings). We prove that every $k$-planar graph is isomorphic to a subgraph of the strong product of a graph of treewidth $O(k^5)$ and a path. This is the first result of this type for a non-minor-closed class of graphs. It implies, amongst other results, that $k$-planar graphs have non-repetitive chromatic number upper-bounded by a function of $k$. All these results generalise for drawings of graphs on arbitrary surfaces. In fact, we work in a more general setting based on so-called shortcut systems, which are of independent interest. This leads to analogous results for certain types of map graphs, string graphs, graph powers, and nearest neighbour graphs.

math.CO↗

Asymptotically Optimal Vertex Ranking of Planar Graphs

A (vertex) $\ell$-ranking is a colouring $φ:V(G)\to\mathbb{N}$ of the vertices of a graph $G$ with integer colours so that for any path $u_0,\ldots,u_p$ of length at most $\ell$, $φ(u_0)\neqφ(u_p)$ or $φ(u_0)<\max\{φ(u_0),\ldots,φ(u_p)\}$. We show that, for any fixed integer $\ell\ge 2$, every $n$-vertex planar graph has an $\ell$-ranking using $O(\log n/\log\log\log n)$ colours and this is tight even when $\ell=2$; for infinitely many values of $n$, there are $n$-vertex planar graphs, for which any 2-ranking requires $Ω(\log n/\log\log\log n)$ colours. This result also extends to bounded genus graphs. In developing this proof we obtain optimal bounds on the number of colours needed for $\ell$-ranking graphs of treewidth $t$ and graphs of simple treewidth $t$. These upper bounds are constructive and give $O(n)$-time algorithms. Additional results that come from our techniques include new sublogarithmic upper bounds on the number of colours needed for $\ell$-rankings of apex minor-free graphs and $k$-planar graphs.

math.CO↗

Separating layered treewidth and row treewidth

Layered treewidth and row treewidth are recently introduced graph parameters that have been key ingredients in the solution of several well-known open problems. It follows from the definitions that the layered treewidth of a graph is at most its row treewidth plus 1. Moreover, a minor-closed class has bounded layered treewidth if and only if it has bounded row treewidth. However, it has been open whether row treewidth is bounded by a function of layered treewidth. This paper answers this question in the negative. In particular, for every integer $k$ we describe a graph with layered treewidth 1 and row treewidth $k$. We also prove an analogous result for layered pathwidth and row pathwidth.

math.CO↗

Odd Colourings of Graph Products

The odd colouring number is a new graph parameter introduced by Petruševski and Škrekovski. In this note, we show that graphs with so called product structure have bounded odd-colouring number. By known results on the product structure of $k$-planar graphs, this implies that $k$-planar graphs have bounded odd-colouring number, which answers a question of Cranston, Lafferty, and Song.

math.CO↗

$2\times n$ Grids have Unbounded Anagram-Free Chromatic Number

We show that anagram-free vertex colouring a $2\times n$ square grid requires a number of colours that increases with $n$. This answers an open question in Wilson's thesis and shows that even graphs of pathwidth $2$ do not have anagram-free colourings with a bounded number of colours.

math.CO↗

Stack-number is not bounded by queue-number

We describe a family of graphs with queue-number at most 4 but unbounded stack-number. This resolves open problems of Heath, Leighton and Rosenberg (1992) and Blankenship and Oporowski (1999).

math.CO↗

Clustered 3-Colouring Graphs of Bounded Degree

A (not necessarily proper) vertex colouring of a graph has "clustering" $c$ if every monochromatic component has at most $c$ vertices. We prove that planar graphs with maximum degree $Δ$ are 3-colourable with clustering $O(Δ^2)$. The previous best bound was $O(Δ^{37})$. This result for planar graphs generalises to graphs that can be drawn on a surface of bounded Euler genus with a bounded number of crossings per edge. We then prove that graphs with maximum degree $Δ$ that exclude a fixed minor are 3-colourable with clustering $O(Δ^5)$. The best previous bound for this result was exponential in $Δ$.

math.CO↗

Adjacency Labelling for Planar Graphs (and Beyond)

We show that there exists an adjacency labelling scheme for planar graphs where each vertex of an $n$-vertex planar graph $G$ is assigned a $(1+o(1))\log_2 n$-bit label and the labels of two vertices $u$ and $v$ are sufficient to determine if $uv$ is an edge of $G$. This is optimal up to the lower order term and is the first such asymptotically optimal result. An alternative, but equivalent, interpretation of this result is that, for every $n$, there exists a graph $U_n$ with $n^{1+o(1)}$ vertices such that every $n$-vertex planar graph is an induced subgraph of $U_n$. These results generalize to bounded genus graphs, apex-minor-free graphs, bounded-degree graphs from minor closed families, and $k$-planar graphs.

cs.DS↗