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Théo Pierron

Publications and source records attributed to Théo Pierron.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2022

Improved pyrotechnics : Closer to the burning graph conjecture

The Burning Number Conjecture claims that for every connected graph $G$ of order $n,$ its burning number satisfies $b(G) \le \lceil \sqrt{n} \rceil.$ While the conjecture remains open, we prove that it is asymptotically true when the order of the graph is much larger than its \emph{growth}, which is the maximal distance of a vertex to a well-chosen path in the graph. We prove that the conjecture for graphs of bounded growth reduces to a finite number of cases. We provide the best-known bound on the burning number of a connected graph $G$ of order $n,$ given by $b(G) \le \sqrt{4n/3} + 1,$ improving on the previously known $\sqrt{3n/2}+O(1)$ bound. Using the improved upper bound, we show that the conjecture almost holds for all graphs with minimum degree at least $3$ and holds for all large enough graphs with minimum degree at least $4$. The previous best-known result was for graphs with minimum degree $23$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2022

What can be certified compactly?

Local certification consists in assigning labels (called \emph{certificates}) to the nodes of a network to certify a property of the network or the correctness of a data structure distributed on the network. The verification of this certification must be local: a node typically sees only its neighbors in the network. The main measure of performance of a certification is the size of its certificates. In 2011, Göös and Suomela identified $Θ(\log n)$ as a special certificate size: below this threshold little is possible, and several key properties do have certifications of this type. A certification with such small certificates is now called a \emph{compact local certification}, and it has become the gold standard of the area, similarly to polynomial time for centralized computing. A major question is then to understand which properties have $O(\log n)$ certificates, or in other words: what is the power of compact local certification? Recently, a series of papers have proved that several well-known network properties have compact local certifications: planarity, bounded-genus, etc. But one would like to have more general results, \emph{i.e.} meta-theorems. In the analogue setting of polynomial-time centralized algorithms, a very fruitful approach has been to prove that restricted types of problems can be solved in polynomial time in graphs with restricted structures. These problems are typically those that can be expressed in some logic, and the graph structures are whose with bounded width or depth parameters. We take a similar approach and prove the first meta-theorems for local certification. (See the abstract of the pdf for more details.)

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arXiv2022

Strengthening a theorem of Meyniel

For an integer $k \geq 1$ and a graph $G$, let $\mathcal{K}_k(G)$ be the graph that has vertex set all proper $k$-colorings of $G$, and an edge between two vertices $α$ and~$β$ whenever the coloring~$β$ can be obtained from $α$ by a single Kempe change. A theorem of Meyniel from 1978 states that $\mathcal{K}_5(G)$ is connected with diameter $O(5^{|V(G)|})$ for every planar graph $G$. We significantly strengthen this result, by showing that there is a positive constant $c$ such that $\mathcal{K}_5(G)$ has diameter $O(|V(G)|^c)$ for every planar graph $G$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2021

Improved square coloring of planar graphs

Square coloring is a variant of graph coloring where vertices within distance two must receive different colors. When considering planar graphs, the most famous conjecture (Wegner, 1977) states that $\frac32Δ+1$ colors are sufficient to square color every planar graph of maximum degree $Δ$. This conjecture has been proven asymptotically for graphs with large maximum degree. We consider here planar graphs with small maximum degree and show that $2Δ+7$ colors are sufficient, which improves the best known bounds when $6\leqslant Δ\leqslant 31$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2021

Recolouring planar graphs of girth at least five

For a positive integer $k$, the $k$-recolouring graph of a graph $G$ has as vertex set all proper $k$-colourings of $G$ with two $k$-colourings being adjacent if they differ by the colour of exactly one vertex. A result of Dyer et al. regarding graphs of bounded degeneracy implies that the $7$-recolouring graphs of planar graphs, the $5$-recolouring graphs of triangle-free planar graphs and the $4$-recolouring graphs planar graphs of girth at least six are connected. On the other hand, there are planar graphs whose $6$-recolouring graph is disconnected, triangle-free planar graphs whose $4$-recolouring graph is disconnected and planar graphs of any given girth whose $3$-recolouring graph is disconnected. The main result of this paper consists in showing, via a novel application of the discharging method, that the $4$-recolouring graph of every planar graph of girth five is connected. This completes the classification of the connectedness of the recolouring graph for planar graphs of given girth. We also prove some theorems regarding the diameter of the recolouring graph of planar graphs.

math.CO↗
arXiv2021

Local certification of MSO properties for bounded treedepth graphs

The graph model checking problem consists in testing whether an input graph satisfies a given logical formula. In this paper, we study this problem in a distributed setting, namely local certification. The goal is to assign labels to the nodes of a network to certify that some given property is satisfied, in such a way that the labels can be checked locally. We first investigate which properties can be locally certified with small certificates. Not surprisingly, this is almost never the case, except for not very expressive logic fragments. Following the steps of Courcelle-Grohe, we then look for meta-theorems explaining what happens when we parameterize the problem by some standard measures of how simple the graph classes are. In that direction, our main result states that any MSO formula can be locally certified on graphs with bounded treedepth with a logarithmic number of bits per node, which is the golden standard in certification.

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arXiv2021

(Sub)linear kernels for edge modification problems towards structured graph classes

In a (parameterized) graph edge modification problem, we are given a graph $G$, an integer $k$ and a (usually well-structured) class of graphs $\mathcal{G}$, and ask whether it is possible to transform $G$ into a graph $G' \in \mathcal{G}$ by adding and/or removing at most $k$ edges. Parameterized graph edge modification problems received considerable attention in the last decades. In this paper, we focus on finding small kernels for edge modification problems. One of the most studied problems is the Cluster Editing problem, in which the goal is to partition the vertex set into a disjoint union of cliques. Even if this problem admits a $2k$ kernel [Cao, 2012], this kernel does not reduce the size of most instances. Therefore, we explore the question of whether linear kernels are a theoretical limit in edge modification problems, in particular when the target graphs are very structured (such as a partition into cliques for instance). We prove, as far as we know, the first sublinear kernel for an edge modification problem. Namely, we show that Clique + Independent Set Deletion, which is a restriction of Cluster Deletion, admits a kernel of size $O(k/\log k)$. We also obtain small kernels for several other edge modification problems. We prove that Split Addition (and the equivalent Split Deletion) admits a linear kernel, improving the existing quadratic kernel of Ghosh et al. [Ghosh et al., 2015]. We complement this result by proving that Trivially Perfect Addition admits a quadratic kernel (improving the cubic kernel of Guo [Guo, 2007]), and finally prove that its triangle-free version (Starforest Deletion) admits a linear kernel, which is optimal under ETH.

cs.DS↗
arXiv2021

Local certification of graph decompositions and applications to minor-free classes

Local certification consists in assigning labels to the nodes of a network to certify that some given property is satisfied, in such a way that the labels can be checked locally. In the last few years, certification of graph classes received a considerable attention. The goal is to certify that a graph $G$ belongs to a given graph class~$\mathcal{G}$. Such certifications with labels of size $O(\log n)$ (where $n$ is the size of the network) exist for trees, planar graphs and graphs embedded on surfaces. Feuilloley et al. ask if this can be extended to any class of graphs defined by a finite set of forbidden minors. In this work, we develop new decomposition tools for graph certification, and apply them to show that for every small enough minor $H$, $H$-minor-free graphs can indeed be certified with labels of size $O(\log n)$. We also show matching lower bounds with a simple new proof technique.

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arXiv2020

On the signed chromatic number of some classes of graphs

A signed graph $(G, σ)$ is a graph $G$ along with a function $σ: E(G) \to \{+,-\}$. A closed walk of a signed graph is positive (resp., negative) if it has an even (resp., odd) number of negative edges, counting repetitions. A homomorphism of a (simple) signed graph to another signed graph is a vertex-mapping that preserves adjacencies and signs of closed walks. The signed chromatic number of a signed graph $(G, σ)$ is the minimum number of vertices $|V(H)|$ of a signed graph $(H, π)$ to which $(G, σ)$ admits a homomorphism.Homomorphisms of signed graphs have been attracting growing attention in the last decades, especially due to their strong connections to the theories of graph coloring and graph minors. These homomorphisms have been particularly studied through the scope of the signed chromatic number. In this work, we provide new results and bounds on the signed chromatic number of several families of signed graphs (planar graphs, triangle-free planar graphs, $K_n$-minor-free graphs, and bounded-degree graphs).

cs.DM↗
arXiv2020

Hadwiger meets Cayley

We show that every connected $k$-chromatic graph contains at least $k^{k-2}$ spanning trees.

math.CO↗
arXiv2019

A Brooks-like result for graph powers

Coloring a graph $G$ consists in finding an assignment of colors $c: V(G)\to\{1,\ldots,p\}$ such that any pair of adjacent vertices receives different colors. The minimum integer $p$ such that a coloring exists is called the chromatic number of $G$, denoted by $χ(G)$. We investigate the chromatic number of powers of graphs, i.e. the graphs obtained from a graph $G$ by adding an edge between every pair of vertices at distance at most $k$. For $k=1$, Brooks' theorem states that every connected graph of maximum degree $Δ\geqslant 3$ excepted the clique on $Δ+1$ vertices can be colored using $Δ$ colors (i.e. one color less than the naive upper bound). For $k\geqslant 2$, a similar result holds: excepted for Moore graphs, the naive upper bound can be lowered by 2. We prove that for $k\geqslant 3$ and for every $Δ$, we can actually spare $k-2$ colors, excepted for a finite number of graphs. We then improve this value to $Θ((Δ-1)^{\frac{k}{12}})$.

cs.DM↗
arXiv2019

Pushable chromatic number of graphs with degree constraints

Pushable homomorphisms and the pushable chromatic number $χ_p$ of oriented graphs were introduced by Klostermeyer and MacGillivray in 2004. They notably observed that, for any oriented graph $\overrightarrow{G}$, we have $χ_p(\overrightarrow{G}) \leq χ_o(\overrightarrow{G}) \leq 2 χ_p(\overrightarrow{G})$, where $χ_o(\overrightarrow{G})$ denotes the oriented chromatic number of $\overrightarrow{G}$. This stands as first general bounds on $χ_p$. This parameter was further studied in later works.This work is dedicated to the pushable chromatic number of oriented graphs fulfilling particular degree conditions. For all $Δ\geq 29$, we first prove that the maximum value of the pushable chromatic number of an oriented graph with maximum degree $Δ$ lies between $2^{\fracΔ{2}-1}$ and $(Δ-3) \cdot (Δ-1) \cdot 2^{Δ-1} + 2$ which implies an improved bound on the oriented chromatic number of the same family of graphs. For subcubic oriented graphs, that is, when $Δ\leq 3$, we then prove that the maximum value of the pushable chromatic number is~$6$ or~$7$. We also prove that the maximum value of the pushable chromatic number of oriented graphs with maximum average degree less than~$3$ lies between~$5$ and~$6$. The former upper bound of~$7$ also holds as an upper bound on the pushable chromatic number of planar oriented graphs with girth at least~$6$.

cs.DM↗
arXiv2019

Degeneracy and Colorings of Squares of Planar Graphs without 4-Cycles

We prove several results on coloring squares of planar graphs without 4-cycles. First, we show that if $G$ is such a graph, then $G^2$ is $(Δ(G)+72)$-degenerate. This implies an upper bound of $Δ(G)+73$ on the chromatic number of $G^2$ as well as on several variants of the chromatic number such as the list-chromatic number, paint number, Alon--Tarsi number, and correspondence chromatic number. We also show that if $Δ(G)$ is sufficiently large, then the upper bounds on each of these parameters of $G^2$ can all be lowered to $Δ(G)+2$ (which is best possible). To complement these results, we show that 4-cycles are unique in having this property. Specifically, let $S$ be a finite list of positive integers, with $4\notin S$. For each constant $C$, we construct a planar graph $G_{S,C}$ with no cycle with length in $S$, but for which $χ(G_{S,C}^2) > Δ(G_{S,C})+C$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2019

Graph Isomorphism for $(H_1,H_2)$-free Graphs: An Almost Complete Dichotomy

We resolve the computational complexity of Graph Isomorphism for classes of graphs characterized by two forbidden induced subgraphs $H_1$ and $H_2$ for all but six pairs $(H_1,H_2)$. Schweitzer had previously shown that the number of open cases was finite, but without specifying the open cases. Grohe and Schweitzer proved that Graph Isomorphism is polynomial-time solvable on graph classes of bounded clique-width. Our work combines known results such as these with new results. By exploiting a relationship between Graph Isomorphism and clique-width, we simultaneously reduce the number of open cases for boundedness of clique-width for $(H_1,H_2)$-free graphs to five.

cs.DM↗
arXiv2019

Complexity of planar signed graph homomorphisms to cycles

We study homomorphism problems of signed graphs. A signed graph is an undirected graph where each edge is given a sign, positive or negative. An important concept for signed graphs is the operation of switching at a vertex, which is to change the sign of each incident edge. A homomorphism of a graph is a vertex-mapping that preserves the adjacencies; in the case of signed graphs, we also preserve the edge-signs. Special homomorphisms of signed graphs, called s-homomorphisms, have been studied. In an s-homomorphism, we allow, before the mapping, to perform any number of switchings on the source signed graph. This concept has been extensively studied, and a full complexity classification (polynomial or NP-complete) for s-homomorphism to a fixed target signed graph has recently been obtained. Such a dichotomy is not known when we restrict the input graph to be planar (not even for non-signed graph homomorphisms). We show that deciding whether a (non-signed) planar graph admits a homomorphism to the square $C_t^2$ of a cycle with $t\ge 6$, or to the circular clique $K_{4t/(2t-1)}$ with $t\ge2$, are NP-complete problems. We use these results to show that deciding whether a planar signed graph admits an s-homomorphism to an unbalanced even cycle is NP-complete. (A cycle is unbalanced if it has an odd number of negative edges). We deduce a complete complexity dichotomy for the planar s-homomorphism problem with any signed cycle as a target. We also study further restrictions involving the maximum degree and the girth of the input signed graph. We prove that planar s-homomorphism problems to signed cycles remain NP-complete even for inputs of maximum degree~$3$ (except for the case of unbalanced $4$-cycles, for which we show this for maximum degree~$4$). We also show that for a given integer $g$, the problem for signed bipartite planar inputs of girth $g$ is either trivial or NP-complete.

cs.DS↗
arXiv2019

Coloring squares of graphs with mad constraints

A proper vertex $k$-coloring of a graph $G=(V,E)$ is an assignment $c:V\to \{1,2,\ldots,k\}$ of colors to the vertices of the graph such that no two adjacent vertices are associated with the same color. The square $G^2$ of a graph $G$ is the graph defined by $V(G)=V(G^2)$ and $uv \in E(G^2)$ if and only if the distance between $u$ and $v$ is at most two. We denote by $χ(G^2)$ the chromatic number of $G^2$, which is the least integer $k$ such that a $k$-coloring of $G^2$ exists. By definition, at least $Δ(G)+1$ colors are needed for this goal, where $Δ(G)$ denotes the maximum degree of the graph $G$. In this paper, we prove that the square of every graph $G$ with $\text{mad}(G)<4$ and $Δ(G) \geqslant 8$ is $(3Δ(G)+1)$-choosable and even correspondence-colorable. Furthermore, we show a family of $2$-degenerate graphs $G$ with $\text{mad}(G)<4$, arbitrarily large maximum degree, and $χ(G^2)\geqslant \frac{5Δ(G)}{2}$, improving the result of Kim and Park.

math.CO↗
arXiv2015

Quantifier Alternation for Infinite Words

We investigate the expressive power of quantifier alternation hierarchy of first-order logic over words. This hierarchy includes the classes $Σ_i$ (sentences having at most $i$ blocks of quantifiers starting with an $\exists$) and $\mathcal{B}Σ_i$ (Boolean combinations of $Σ_i$ sentences). So far, this expressive power has been effectively characterized for the lower levels only. Recently, a breakthrough was made over finite words, and decidable characterizations were obtained for $\mathcal{B}Σ_2$ and $Σ_3$, by relying on a decision problem called separation, and solving it for $Σ_2$. The contribution of this paper is a generalization of these results to the setting of infinite words: we solve separation for $Σ_2$ and $Σ_3$, and obtain decidable characterizations of $\mathcal{B}Σ_2$ and $Σ_3$ as consequences.

cs.FL↗