insight - Algorithms and Data Structures - # Graph Theory

The Relationship Between Induced Matching Treewidth and Tree-Independence Number in Graphs

Q: How does the exclusion of other induced subgraphs, beyond bicliques and cliques, impact the relationship between tree-µ and tree-α?

Excluding other induced subgraphs beyond bicliques and cliques can indeed significantly impact the relationship between tree-µ (induced matching treewidth) and tree-α (tree-independence number). Here's a breakdown: Bicliques are special: The provided context emphasizes that bicliques are the "sole obstruction" to bounding tree-α by a function of tree-µ. This means that in their absence, we obtain a bound, as demonstrated by Theorem 1.1. Beyond bicliques: When considering other excluded subgraphs: Some exclusions might not help: Excluding structures already known to have bounded tree-µ (e.g., paths) won't change the relationship, as tree-α can still be arbitrarily large. New bounds might arise: Excluding certain subgraphs might inherently limit the structure of potential tree decompositions, leading to a bound on tree-α in terms of tree-µ. For instance, excluding large induced cycles might impose such restrictions. Complexity: Determining the precise impact of excluding a given subgraph can be highly non-trivial. It requires a deep understanding of how the excluded structure interacts with potential tree decompositions and induced matchings. Open research area: Exploring the effect of excluding various induced subgraphs on the tree-µ and tree-α relationship is an active research area with many open questions.

Q: Could there be a class of graphs with bounded tree-µ where the chromatic number grows exponentially with the clique number, contradicting polynomial χ-boundedness?

While Theorem 1.3 establishes that graph classes with bounded tree-µ are χ-bounded, the question of polynomial χ-boundedness (whether the chromatic number can be bounded by a polynomial function of the clique number) remains open (Problem 5.4 in the context). No known counterexamples: Currently, there are no known examples of graph classes with bounded tree-µ where the chromatic number grows exponentially with the clique number. Difficulty in construction: Constructing such a counterexample would likely be challenging. It would require finding a class of graphs where: Tree-µ is bounded, limiting the size of induced matchings touching a bag in any tree decomposition. The chromatic number grows exponentially with the clique number, implying a complex structure despite the limited induced matching size. Potential approaches: Research into this problem might involve: Analyzing known χ-bounded classes with non-polynomial bounds to see if they can be adapted to have bounded tree-µ. Developing new techniques for constructing graph classes with specific combinations of tree-µ, chromatic number, and clique number.

Q: What are the implications of these findings for the design of efficient algorithms for NP-hard problems on graphs with bounded tree-µ, considering the established relationship with tree-α and χ-boundedness?

The findings regarding the relationship between tree-µ, tree-α, and χ-boundedness have significant implications for designing efficient algorithms for NP-hard problems on graphs with bounded tree-µ: Leveraging tree-α: Theorem 1.1 implies that for Kt,t-free graphs, algorithms designed for bounded tree-α graphs can be directly applied to bounded tree-µ graphs. This is because a bound on tree-µ in Kt,t-free graphs implies a bound on tree-α. Exploiting χ-boundedness: Theorem 1.3, stating that bounded tree-µ implies χ-boundedness, opens up possibilities for using coloring-based algorithmic techniques. Many NP-hard problems become tractable on graphs with bounded chromatic number. Polynomial-time algorithms: The combination of bounded tree-α or χ-boundedness with bounded tree-µ can lead to polynomial-time algorithms for problems like: Maximum Weight Independent Set: Already shown to be solvable in polynomial time on graphs with bounded tree-µ [17]. k-Coloring: Polynomial-time solvable on graphs with bounded tree-α [11] and thus on Kt,t-free graphs with bounded tree-µ. Other problems: Potentially other problems that are efficiently solvable on graphs with bounded treewidth or tree-independence number might also become tractable on graphs with bounded tree-µ. Future directions: Polynomial χ-boundedness: Resolving Problem 5.4 (whether bounded tree-µ implies polynomial χ-boundedness) would have major algorithmic implications. If true, it would broaden the applicability of many known algorithms for polynomially χ-bounded graph classes. Beyond Kt,t-free graphs: Exploring the algorithmic consequences of excluding other induced subgraphs beyond Kt,t in the context of bounded tree-µ graphs is a promising research direction.

Conceitos Básicos

Graphs with bounded induced matching treewidth that exclude a fixed biclique as an induced subgraph have bounded tree-independence number, confirming conjectures by Lima et al. and contributing to the understanding of these graph parameters.

Resumo

Bibliographic Information: Abrishami, T., Briański, M., Czyżewska, J., McCarty, R., Milanič, M., Rzążewski, P., & Walczak, B. (2024). Excluding a clique or a biclique in graphs of bounded induced matching treewidth. arXiv preprint arXiv:2405.04617.
Research Objective: This paper investigates the relationship between induced matching treewidth (tree-µ) and tree-independence number (tree-α) in graphs, particularly when certain subgraphs are excluded.
Methodology: The authors utilize Ramsey-type arguments and properties of tree decompositions to establish bounds on tree-α in graphs with bounded tree-µ when specific subgraphs (bicliques and cliques) are excluded.
Key Findings:
- The paper proves that graphs with bounded tree-µ that exclude a fixed biclique as an induced subgraph have bounded tree-α.
- It demonstrates that classes of graphs with bounded tree-µ are χ-bounded, meaning their chromatic number can be bounded by a function of their clique number.
Main Conclusions: The findings confirm two conjectures by Lima et al. regarding the relationship between tree-µ and tree-α and the χ-boundedness of graph classes with bounded tree-µ. This contributes significantly to understanding the structural properties of these graph classes.
Significance: This research deepens the understanding of the interplay between tree decompositions and induced matchings in graphs. It provides valuable insights into the structural properties influenced by these parameters, particularly when certain subgraphs are forbidden.
Limitations and Future Research: The paper focuses on excluding bicliques and cliques. Exploring the impact of excluding other induced subgraphs on the relationship between tree-µ and tree-α could be a potential direction for future research. Additionally, investigating the polynomial χ-boundedness of graph classes with bounded tree-µ is an open question.

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Estatísticas

tree-µ(Kt,t) = 1
tree-α(Kt,t) = t

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Principais Insights Extraídos De

Excluding a clique or a biclique in graphs of bounded induced matching treewidth

by Tara... às arxiv.org 10-24-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2405.04617.pdf

Excluding a clique or a biclique in graphs of bounded induced matching treewidth

Perguntas Mais Profundas

How does the exclusion of other induced subgraphs, beyond bicliques and cliques, impact the relationship between tree-µ and tree-α?

Excluding other induced subgraphs beyond bicliques and cliques can indeed significantly impact the relationship between tree-µ (induced matching treewidth) and tree-α (tree-independence number).  Here's a breakdown:

Bicliques are special: The provided context emphasizes that bicliques are the "sole obstruction" to bounding tree-α by a function of tree-µ. This means that in their absence, we obtain a bound, as demonstrated by Theorem 1.1.

Beyond bicliques:  When considering other excluded subgraphs:

Some exclusions might not help:  Excluding structures already known to have bounded tree-µ (e.g., paths) won't change the relationship, as tree-α can still be arbitrarily large.
New bounds might arise:  Excluding certain subgraphs might inherently limit the structure of potential tree decompositions, leading to a bound on tree-α in terms of tree-µ. For instance, excluding large induced cycles might impose such restrictions.
Complexity: Determining the precise impact of excluding a given subgraph can be highly non-trivial. It requires a deep understanding of how the excluded structure interacts with potential tree decompositions and induced matchings.

Open research area:  Exploring the effect of excluding various induced subgraphs on the tree-µ and tree-α relationship is an active research area with many open questions.

Could there be a class of graphs with bounded tree-µ where the chromatic number grows exponentially with the clique number, contradicting polynomial χ-boundedness?

While Theorem 1.3 establishes that graph classes with bounded tree-µ are χ-bounded, the question of polynomial χ-boundedness (whether the chromatic number can be bounded by a polynomial function of the clique number) remains open (Problem 5.4 in the context).

No known counterexamples: Currently, there are no known examples of graph classes with bounded tree-µ where the chromatic number grows exponentially with the clique number.
Difficulty in construction: Constructing such a counterexample would likely be challenging. It would require finding a class of graphs where:

Tree-µ is bounded, limiting the size of induced matchings touching a bag in any tree decomposition.
The chromatic number grows exponentially with the clique number, implying a complex structure despite the limited induced matching size.


Potential approaches: Research into this problem might involve:

Analyzing known χ-bounded classes with non-polynomial bounds to see if they can be adapted to have bounded tree-µ.
Developing new techniques for constructing graph classes with specific combinations of tree-µ, chromatic number, and clique number.

What are the implications of these findings for the design of efficient algorithms for NP-hard problems on graphs with bounded tree-µ, considering the established relationship with tree-α and χ-boundedness?

The findings regarding the relationship between tree-µ, tree-α, and χ-boundedness have significant implications for designing efficient algorithms for NP-hard problems on graphs with bounded tree-µ:

Leveraging tree-α: Theorem 1.1 implies that for Kt,t-free graphs, algorithms designed for bounded tree-α graphs can be directly applied to bounded tree-µ graphs. This is because a bound on tree-µ in Kt,t-free graphs implies a bound on tree-α.

Exploiting χ-boundedness: Theorem 1.3, stating that bounded tree-µ implies χ-boundedness, opens up possibilities for using coloring-based algorithmic techniques. Many NP-hard problems become tractable on graphs with bounded chromatic number.

Polynomial-time algorithms: The combination of bounded tree-α or χ-boundedness with bounded tree-µ can lead to polynomial-time algorithms for problems like:

Maximum Weight Independent Set: Already shown to be solvable in polynomial time on graphs with bounded tree-µ [17].
k-Coloring:  Polynomial-time solvable on graphs with bounded tree-α [11] and thus on Kt,t-free graphs with bounded tree-µ.
Other problems:  Potentially other problems that are efficiently solvable on graphs with bounded treewidth or tree-independence number might also become tractable on graphs with bounded tree-µ.

Future directions:

Polynomial χ-boundedness:  Resolving Problem 5.4 (whether bounded tree-µ implies polynomial χ-boundedness) would have major algorithmic implications. If true, it would broaden the applicability of many known algorithms for polynomially χ-bounded graph classes.
Beyond Kt,t-free graphs: Exploring the algorithmic consequences of excluding other induced subgraphs beyond Kt,t in the context of bounded tree-µ graphs is a promising research direction.