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Yaojun Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Yaojun Chen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Threshold Ramsey multiplicity and extremal colorings for odd cycles

The Ramsey number $r(H)$ of a graph $H$ is the minimum positive integer $n$ such that every red/blue edge-coloring of the complete graph $K_n$ on $n$ vertices contains a monochromatic copy of $H$. The threshold Ramsey multiplicity $m(H)$ of $H$ is the minimum number of monochromatic copies of $H$ over all red/blue edge-colorings of $K_{r(H)}$. The only family for which $m(H)$ has been determined is stars, due to Harary and Prins (1974). Let $C_k$ be a cycle on $k$ vertices. Conlon, Fox, Sudakov, and Wei (2022) conjectured that $m(C_k)=(k-1)!/2$ for every sufficiently large odd integer $k$. In this paper, we confirm the conjecture and characterize all the extremal colorings of $K_{2k-1}$. This is also the second family for which $m(H)$ has been determined.

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arXiv2026

Counterexamples to two conjectures on the diameter of clique-free graphs

Erd\H{o}s et al. (JCT-B, 1989) conjectured that, for integers $r\ge 2$ and $\delta\ge 2$ with $3r-1\mid\delta$, every connected $K_{2r+1}$-free graph of order $n$ and minimum degree $\delta$ has diameter at most $ \frac{3r-1}{r}\cdot \frac{n}{\delta}+O(1)$. Czabarka et al. (JCT-B, 2021) later proposed the following generalization: for every $k\ge 3$ and $\delta\ge\left\lceil\frac{3k}{2}\right\rceil-1$, every connected $K_{k+1}$-free graph of order $n$ and minimum degree at least $\delta$ has diameter at most $(3-\frac{2}{k})\cdot\frac{n}{\delta}+O(1)$. We disprove the latter conjecture, including its $k$-colorable version, for every $k\ge 7$ and sufficiently large $\delta$. When $k=2r\ge 8$ and $3r-1\mid\delta$, our construction also disproves the conjecture of Erd\H{o}s et al. (JCT-B, 1989).

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arXiv2026

Any $k$-graph with zero $\ell$-degree Tur\'an density is layered

The codegree Tur\'an density $\pi_{\mathrm{co}}(F)$ is the supremum over all $\gamma \in [0,1)$ such that, for arbitrarily large $n$, there exists an $n$-vertex $F$-free $k$-graph $H$ whose every $(k-1)$-subset of vertices lies in at least $\gamma n$ edges. Ding, Lamaison, Liu, Wang, and Yang (JLMS, 2025) studied the problem of what 3-graphs $F$ satisfy $\pi_{\mathrm{co}}(F) = 0$. They introduced layered $3$-graphs and conjectured that a $3$-graph has zero codegree Tur\'an density if and only if it is layered and has zero uniform Tur\'an density. For $k\ge 3$, a $k$-graph is called layered if its vertices can be labelled so that every edge has a unique maximum label and two edges with the same maximum label have the same label multiset. In this paper, we show that every non-layered $k$-graph $F$ on $m$ vertices satisfies \[ \pi_{\mathrm{co}}(F)\ge q_{k,m}^{-q_{k,m}}>0, \quad \text{where}\quad q_{k,m}=\frac{(k-1)^{m+1}-1}{k-2}, \] which implies any $k$-graph with zero $\ell$-degree Tur\'an density is layered, and the case $k=3$ confirms the conjecture of Ding, Lamaison, Liu, Wang, and Yang.

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arXiv2026

New upper bound for the Ramsey number of odd cycles

The \emph{$k$-color Ramsey number} $R_k(C_{2\ell+1})$ is the least integer $n$ such that any $k$-edge-coloring of a complete graph $K_n$ has a monochromatic odd cycle $C_{2\ell+1}$. Axenovich, Cames van Batenburg, Janzer, Michel, and Rundstr\"om~(JCT-B, 2026) recently proved \[ R_k(C_{2\ell+1})\le (4\ell-2)^k k^{k/\ell}+1, \] and Miyazaki, Mulrenin, Pohoata, and Zheng further improved the factor $k^{k/\ell}$ to $(k!)^{1/\ell}$. As Jenssen and Skokan (AM, 2021) determined $R_k(C_{2\ell+1})$ for fixed $k$ and sufficiently large $\ell$, it becomes even more interesting to seek better bound for fixed $\ell$ and sufficiently large $k$. In this paper, we show \[ R_k(C_{2\ell+1}) \le \frac{2\ell}{2\ell-1}(2\ell-1)^k(k!)^{1/\ell} \exp\!\left(k^{1-1/\ell}+O_\ell\!\left(k^{1-2/\ell}+\log k\right)\right)+1 \] for every fixed $\ell\ge 2$ and sufficiently large $k$, which improves the bound of Miyazaki et al. by a factor $2^{k-o(k)}$, and the bound of Axenovich et al. by a factor $(2\e^{1/\ell})^{k-o(k)}$.

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arXiv2026

Erd\H{o}s--Ko--Rado theorems in $\ell_2$-norm for three finite spaces

Let $\mathcal{F}$ be a $k$-uniform hypergraph. The famous Erd\H{o}s--Ko--Rado (1961) theorem determines the maximum size and extremal structure for $\mathcal{F}$ being $t$-intersecting, that is, $|F_1 \cap F_2| \ge t$ for any two edges $F_1, F_2$ of $\mathcal F$. The codegree squared sum $\mathrm{co}_2(\mathcal{F})$ is the square of the $\ell_2$-norm of the codegree vector of all $(k-1)$-sets in $\mathcal{F}$, which was initially introduced for Tur\'an problems of hypergraphs. Recently, Brooks and Linz (2026), as well as Wu and Zhang (2026) investigated the maximum value of $\mathrm{co}_2(\mathcal{F})$ and corresponding extremal structures for $\mathcal{F}$ being $t$-intersecting. Moreover, Brooks and Linz asked if the classical results on intersecting families can be extended to $\mathrm{co}_2(\mathcal{F})$. In this paper, by developing the spectral techniques for incidence matrices, we study the extremal problems of $\mathrm{co}_2(\mathcal{F})$ for $\mathcal{F}$ being intersecting families in finite vector spaces, affine spaces, and attenuated spaces, and establish the Erd\H{o}s--Ko--Rado theorems in $\ell_2$-norm for the three finite spaces.

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arXiv2026

On monochromatic path covers conjecture of Erd\H{o}s--Gy\'arf\'as

Erd\H{o}s and Gy\'arf\'as conjectured in 1995 that, in every red--blue edge-coloring of a complete graph $K_n$, the vertex set can be covered by at most $\sqrt n$ monochromatic paths, all of the same color. Pokrovskiy, Versteegen and Williams (JCT-B, 2026) proved the conjecture for all sufficiently large $n$. In this paper, by using minimal counterexample method, we confirm the conjecture completely.

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arXiv2026

A note on tree-cycle Ramsey numbers

Let $R(T_n,C_m)$ denote the Ramsey number of a tree $T_n$ on $n$ vertices versus a cycle $C_m$ of length $m$. Burr, Erd\H{o}s, Faudree, Rousseau, and Schelp (1982) asked for the least function $f(m)$ such that $R(T_n,C_m)=2n-1$ for every odd $m\ge 3$ whenever $n\ge f(m)$. They proved that $f(m)\le 756m^{10}$. This bound was later improved to $25m$ by Brennan (2016) and to $4m-8$ by Fan and Lin (2025). In this note, we show that $f(m)\le 2m-4$ by using a different method and conjecture that $f(m)=\lceil (2m-1)/3\rceil$.

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arXiv2026

On regular homogeneously traceable nonhamiltonian graphs

A graph is homogeneously traceable if each vertex is an endpoint of a Hamiltonian path. Chartrand, Gould, and Kapoor (1979) proved irregular homogeneously traceable nonhamiltonian graphs exist for every order $n\ge 9$. Hu and Zhan (DAM, 2022) considered the $3$-regular and $4$-regular cases and asked which order $n$ can be realized by a $k$-regular homogeneously traceable nonhamiltonian graph. Recently, Liu and Qiao (DAM, 2026) showed that $n=p(k-1)+q\ge 6(k-1)+q$ can be realized if $k\ge 5$ is odd and $q\in\{0,2,4,6\}$, or $k\ge 6$ is even and $q\in\{0,1,...,6\}$. In this paper, we show that for any $k\ge 6$ and $n\ge 6(k-2)$, there exists a $k$-regular homogeneously traceable nonhamiltonian graph of order $n$.

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arXiv2026

On the codegree Tur\'an density of projective geometries

Let $F$ be a $k$-uniform hypergraph, abbreviated as $k$-graph. The codegree Tur\'an density $\gamma(F)$ is the supremum over all $\gamma \in [0,1)$ such that, for arbitrarily large $n$, there exists an $n$-vertex $F$-free $k$-graph $H$ whose every $(k-1)$-subset of vertices lies in at least $\gamma n$ edges. Let $PG_m(q)$ be the projective geometry of dimension $m$ over finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$. In this paper, we prove that $\gamma(PG_m(q)) \ge \frac{1}{p}> 0$ for all $m$ and $q$, where $p$ is the smallest prime divisor of $q+1$. This resolves an open problem proposed by Keevash and Zhao (JCT-B, 2007). Moreover, we determine the exact codegree Tur\'an density of $PG_4(q)$ when $q$ is an odd prime power.

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arXiv2026

Two-block cycles and chromatic number of Hamiltonian digraphs

Let $k$ and $\ell$ be positive integers. The family $C(k,\ell)$ consists of all digraphs obtained from two internally vertex-disjoint directed paths of lengths at least $k$ and $\ell$, respectively, and identifying their initial vertices and their terminal vertices. Addario-Berry, Havet and Thomass\'e (JCT-B, 2007) asked whether, for any positive integers $k$ and $\ell$ with $k+\ell \ge 4$, the chromatic number $\chi(D)$ is at most $k+\ell-1$ for every $C(k,\ell)$-free strongly connected digraph $D$. Let $D$ be a $C(k,\ell)$-free Hamiltonian digraph. Kim, Kim, Ma and Park (JGT, 2018) showed that $\chi(D) \le k+\ell$ and the bound is attained when $k+\ell=5$. In this paper, we prove that $\chi(D) \le k+\ell-1$ for $k+\ell\ge 6$ and this bound is best possible for all $k+\ell\geq 6$, which resolves the problem posed by Addario-Berry, Havet and Thomass\'e for Hamiltonian digraphs.

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arXiv2026

Odd covers for complete graphs and complete 3-graphs

The Graham-Pollak theorem says that one needs at least $n - 1$ complete bipartite graphs to cover each edge of a complete graph $K_{n}$ on $n$ vertices exactly once. The odd cover problem is a parity analogue which seeks the minimum number of complete bipartite graphs, denoted by $b_2(n)$, such that each edge of $ K_n $ is covered an odd number of times. An odd cover of a complte 3-graph $K_n^{(3)}$ on $n$ vertices is a family of complete $3$-partite $3$-graphs such that every triple is covered an odd number of times. Let $b_3(n)$ be the minimum size of such a family. The values of $b_2(n)$ and $b_3(n)$ are determined for some $n$ in several previous works. In this paper, we first determine the value of $b_2(n)$ for all $n$, which confirms a conjecture due to Buchanan et al. (JGT, 2026), and then show $b_3(n+1)=b_2(n)$ by which the value of $b_3(n)$ is determined for all $n$, that resolves a question posed by Leader and Tan (EJC, 2026).

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arXiv2026

On linear $k$-graphs with codegree Tur\'an density arbitrarily close to zero

Let $F$ be a $k$-uniform hypergraph, abbreviated as $k$-graph. The codegree Tur\'an density $\pi_{\mathrm{co}}(F)$ is the supremum over all $\gamma \in [0,1)$ such that, for arbitrarily large $n$, there exists an $n$-vertex $F$-free $k$-graph $H$ whose every $(k-1)$-subset of vertices lies in at least $\gamma n$ edges. In this paper, we prove that there is a linear $k$-graph $F$ with $0<\pi_{co}(F) < \varepsilon$ for any $\varepsilon>0$. The special case $k=3$ solve a question proposed by Ding, Lamaison, Liu, Wang and Yang (JLMS, 2025). The main method combines an affine-plane-type incidence structure over a finite field and elementary number-theoretic arguments.

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arXiv2026

On the threshold Ramsey multiplicity conjectures for paths and even cycles

The Ramsey number $r(H)$ of a graph $H$ is the minimum positive integer $n$ such that every red/blue edge-coloring of the complete graph $K_n$ on $n$ vertices contains a monochromatic copy of $H$. The threshold Ramsey multiplicity $m(H)$ of $H$ is the minimum number of monochromatic copies of $H$ over all red/blue edge-colorings of $K_{r(H)}$. Let $P_t$ and $C_t$ be a path and a cycle on $t$ vertices, respectively. In this paper, by using combinatorial and local random construction, we show that $$m(C_{2t})\le t^{-\gamma+o(1)}\frac{(2t-1)!}{2}, \qquad m(P_{2t+1})\le t^{-\gamma+o(1)}\frac{t}{2}(2t)!,$$ and $$m(P_{2t})\leq \left(\frac{7}{8}+o(1)\right)\frac{(2t)!}{2},$$ for sufficiently large $t$, where $\gamma=1/(1+\sqrt{2})$. These results disprove two conjectures on the threshold Ramsey multiplicity for even cycles and paths, due to Conlon, Fox, Sudakov, and Wei.

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arXiv2026

Ramsey numbers and Gallai--Ramsey numbers of disjoint unions of cherries

For graphs $G_1,\ldots,G_k$, the Ramsey number $R(G_1,\ldots,G_k)$ is the smallest positive integer $N$ such that every $k$-edge-coloring of $K_N$ contains a monochromatic copy of $G_i$ in color $i$ for some $i\in[k]$. The Gallai--Ramsey number $GR(G_1,\ldots,G_k)$ is defined analogously, with the colorings restricted to Gallai colorings (i.e., edge-colorings with no rainbow triangle). A copy of $P_3$ is called a cherry. Let $n_iP_3$ denote the disjoint union of $n_i$ cherries. Wu, Magnant, Nowbandegani, and Xia (Discrete Appl. Math., 2019) proposed two conjectures: \[ R(n_1P_3,\ldots,n_kP_3)=N\ \text{and}\ GR(n_1P_3,\ldots,n_kP_3)=N\,, \] where $N=2\max\{n_1,\ldots,n_k\}+\sum_{i=1}^kn_i-k+1$. We disprove the Ramsey conjecture and provide some sufficient conditions for determining the exact value of $R(n_1P_3,\ldots,n_kP_3)$. In contrast, we confirm the Gallai--Ramsey conjecture.

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arXiv2026

New bounds for Ramsey numbers involving graphs with a center

Let $F_n$, $W_n$, and $\widehat{K}_n$ be the graphs obtained by joining a vertex to $n$ independent edges, a cycle and a path of order $n-1$, respectively. In this paper, we give new bounds for the Ramsey numbers $R(F_n,F_m)$ and $R(W_n,W_n)$, which improve those due to Chen, Yu, and Zhao [EJC, 2021] and Mao, Wang, Magnant, and Schiermeyer [G&C, 2022], respectively, and establish lower and upper bounds for $R(\widehat{K}_n,\widehat{K}_n)$. Moreover, we present a blow-up technique to establish some new lower bounds for the Ramsey numbers of wheels versus cliques.

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arXiv2026

The Tur\'an number of the triangular pyramid of 4-layers

The Tur\'{a}n number $ex(n,H)$ of a graph $H$ is the maximum number of edges in any $H$-free graph on $n$ vertices. The triangular pyramid of $k$-layers, denoted by $TP_k$, is a generalization of a triangle. The Tur\'an problems of a triangular pyramid with small layers have been studied widely by Liu (E-JC, 2013), Xiao, Katona, Xiao and Zamora (DAM, 2022), Ghosh, Gy\H{o}ri, Paulos, Xiao and Zamora (DAM, 2022). Moreover, Ghosh et al. conjectured that $ex(n, TP_4)=\frac{1}{4}n^2+\Theta(n^{\frac{4}{3}})$. In this note, we confirm this conjecture.

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arXiv2025

Oriented trees in digraphs with large girth

The girth of a graph $G$ is the length of a shortest cycle of $G$. Jiang (JCT-B, 2001) showed that every graph $G$ with girth at least $2\ell+1$ and minimum degree at least $k/\ell$ contains every tree $T$ with $k$ edges whose maximum degree does not exceed the minimum degree of $G$. Let $\delta^0(D)$ be the minimum semidegree of a digraph $D$ and $\Delta(D)$ be the maximum degree of $D$. In this paper, we establish a digraph version of Jiang's result, stating that every oriented graph $D$ of girth at least $2\ell+1$ with $\delta^0(D)\ge \max\{k/\ell,\Delta(T)\}$ contains every oriented tree with $k$ edges, that answers a question raised by Stein and Trujillo-Negrete in affirmative.

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arXiv2025

Ramsey numbers of sparse graphs versus disjoint books

Let $B_k$ denote a book on $k+2$ vertices and $tB_k$ be $t$ vertex-disjoint $B_k$'s. Let $G$ be a connected graph with $n$ vertices and at most $n(1+\epsilon)$ edges, where $\epsilon$ is a constant depending on $k$ and $t$. In this paper, we show that the Ramsey number $$r(G,tB_k)=2n+t-2$$ provided $n\ge 111t^3k^3$. Our result extends the work of Erd\H{o}s, Faudree, Rousseau, and Schelp (1988), who established the corresponding result for $G$ being a tree and $t=1$.

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