Dragan Stevanović
The $k$-th spectral moment $M_k(G)$ of the adjacency matrix of a graph~$G$ represents the number of closed walks of length~$k$ in~$G$. We study here the partial order $\preceq$ of graphs, defined by $G\preceq H$ if $M_k(G)\leq M_k(H)$ for all $k\geq 0$, and are interested in the question when is $\preceq$ a linear order within a specified set of graphs? Our main result is that $\preceq$ is a linear order on each set of starlike trees with constant number of vertices. Recall that a connected graph $G$ is a starlike tree if it has a vertex~$u$ such that the components of $G-u$ are paths, called the branches of~$G$. It turns out that the $\preceq$ ordering of starlike trees with constant number of vertices coincides with the shortlex order of sorted sequence of their branch lengths.
Mohammad Ghebleh, Salem Al-Yakoob, Ali Kanso, Dragan Stevanovic
We reimplement here the recent approach of Adam Zsolt Wagner [arXiv:2104.14516], which applies reinforcement learning to construct (counter)examples in graph theory, in order to make it more readable, more stable and much faster. The presented concepts are illustrated by constructing counterexamples for a number of published conjectured bounds for the Laplacian spectral radius of graphs.
Mohammad Ghebleh, Salem Al-Yakoob, Ali Kanso, Dragan Stevanović
We describe here how the recent Wagner's approach for applying reinforcement learning to construct examples in graph theory can be used in the search for critical graphs for small Ramsey numbers. We illustrate this application by providing lower bounds for the small Ramsey numbers $R(K_{2,5}, K_{3,5})$, $R(B_3, B_6)$ and $R(B_4, B_5)$ and by improving the lower known bound for $R(W_5, W_7)$.
Péter Csikvári, Ivan Damnjanović, Marko Milošević, Ivan Stanković, Dragan Stevanović
The energy $E(G)$ of a simple graph $G$ is the sum of absolute values of the eigenvalues of its adjacency matrix. A borderenergetic graph of order $n \in \mathbb{N}$ is any noncomplete graph~$G$ such that $E(G) = E(K_n) = 2n - 2$. Here we combine two-phase computer-assisted search with theoretical arguments to show that there are only three borderenergetic chemical graphs, thus completing the earlier findings of Li, Wei and Zhu [MATCH Commun. Math. Comput. Chem. 77 (2017), 25-36]. We perform two-phase computer-assisted search to also find all $566$ borderenergetic graphs of order~$12$, thereby correcting and extending the results from a previous search performed by Furtula and Gutman [Iranian J. Math. Chem. 8(4) (2017), 339-344].
Dragan Stevanović, Mohammad Ghebleh, Gilles Caporossi, Ambat Vijayakumar, Sanja Stevanović
The triangle-degree of a vertex v of a simple graph G is the number of triangles in G that contain v. A simple graph is triangle-distinct if all its vertices have distinct triangle-degrees. Berikkyzy et al. [Discrete Math. 347 (2024) 113695] recently asked whether there exists a regular graph that is triangle-distinct. Here we showcase the examples of regular, triangle-distinct graphs with orders between 21 and 27, and report on the methodology used to find them.
Salem Al-Yakoob, Dragan Stevanovic
Transmission of a vertex v of a connected graph G is the sum of distances from v to all other vertices in G. Graph G is transmission irregular (TI) if no two of its vertices have the same transmission, and G is interval transmission irregular (ITI) if it is TI and the vertex transmissions of G form a sequence of consecutive integers. Here we give a positive answer to the question of Dobrynin [Appl Math Comput 340 (2019), 1-4] of whether infinite families of ITI graphs exist.
Ivan Damnjanović, Dragan Stevanović
A nut graph is a simple graph whose adjacency matrix has the eigenvalue~0 with multiplicity~1 such that its corresponding eigenvector has no zero entries. Motivated by a question of Fowler et al.~[\emph{Disc. Math. Graph Theory} 40 (2020), 533--557] to determine the pairs $(n,d)$ for which a vertex-transitive nut graph of order $n$ and degree $d$ exists, Ba\v sić et al.\ [\arxiv{2102.04418}, 2021] initiated the study of circulant nut graphs. Here we first show that the generator set of a circulant nut graph necessarily contains equally many even and odd integers. Then we characterize circulant nut graphs with the generator set $\{x,x+1,\dots,x+2t-1\}$ for $x,t\in\N$, which generalizes the result of Ba\v sić et al.\ for the generator set $\{1,\dots,2t\}$. We further study circulant nut graphs with the generator set $\{1,\dots,2t+1\}\setminus\{t\}$, which yields nut graphs of every even order $n\geq 4t+4$ whenever $t$~is odd such that $t\not\equiv_{10}1$ and $t\not\equiv_{18}15$. This fully resolves Conjecture~9 from Ba\v sić et al.~[ibid.]. We also study the existence of $4t$-regular circulant nut graphs for small values of~$t$, which partially resolves Conjecture~10 of Ba\v sić et al.~[ibid.].
Luka Radanović, Abdelkadir Fellague, Dragutin Ostojić, Dragan Stevanović, Tatjana Davidović
We consider the problem of characterizing graphs with the maximum spectral radius among the connected graphs with given numbers of vertices and edges. It is well-known that the candidates for extremal graphs are threshold graphs, but only a few partial theoretical results have been obtained so far. Therefore, we approach to this problem from a novel perspective that involves incomplete enumeration of different threshold graphs with a given characteristic. Our methodology defines the considered problem as an optimization task and utilizes two metaheuristic methods, Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS), which relies on iterative improvements of a single current best solution and Bee Colony Optimization (BCO), a population-based metaheuristic from the Swarm Intelligence (SI) class. We use compact solution representation and several auxiliary data structures that should enable efficient search of the solution space. In addition, we define several types of transformations that preserve the feasibility of the resulting solution. The proposed methods are compared on the graphs with a moderate number of vertices. Preliminary results are in favor of the VNS approach, however, we believe that both methods could be improved.
Đorđe Stevanović, Ivan Damnjanović, Dragan Stevanović
For a graph $G$, its energy $\mathcal{E}(G)$ is the sum of absolute values of the eigenvalues of its adjacency matrix, the matching number $μ(G)$ is the number of edges in a maximum matching of $G$, while $Δ$ is the maximum vertex degree of $G$. Akbari, Alazemi and Anđelić in [Appl. Anal. Discrete Math. 15 (2021), 444--459] proved that $\mathcal{E}(G) \leq 2μ(G)$ when $G$ is connected and $Δ\geq6$, and conjectured that the same inequality is also valid when $2\leqΔ\leq5$. Here we first computationally enumerate small counterexamples for this conjecture and then provide two infinite families of counterexamples.
Salem Al-Yakoob, Ali Kanso, Dragan Stevanović
In a recent series of papers, Hosoya drew the attention to a particular aspect of constructing cospectral graphs by using coalescences: that cospectral graphs can be constructed by attaching multiple copies of a rooted graph in different ways to subsets of vertices of an underlying graph. Our principal focus is to address the expectations and questions raised in Hosoya's papers with regards to this construction. We give an explicit formula for the characteristic polynomial of such multiple coalescences, from which we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for their cospectrality. We enumerate such cospectral multiple coalescences for a few families of underlying graphs, and show the infinitude of cospectral multiple coalescences having paths as underlying graphs, which were deemed rare by Hosoya.
Ivan Damnjanović, Milan Damnjanović, Ivanka Milošević, Dragan Stevanović
We present a universal and straightforward algebraic procedure for flat bands construction, polynomial indicator method. Using only Bloch Hamiltonian eigendeterminant functional to identify conditions that guarantee existence of nondispersive eigenvalues, the polynomial indicator method is applicable to all lattice types, enabling predictions of (topological) flat bands in electronic band structure (across the materials), as well as all possible designs of novel artificial flat band lattices. The method is in detail illustrated on several examples - kagome and dice lattice included.
Aleksandar Ilic, Andreja Ilic, Dragan Stevanovic
Let $G$ be a simple undirected $n$-vertex graph with the characteristic polynomial of its Laplacian matrix $L(G)$, $\det (λI - L (G))=\sum_{k = 0}^n (-1)^k c_k λ^{n - k}$. It is well known that for trees the Laplacian coefficient $c_{n-2}$ is equal to the Wiener index of $G$. Using a result of Zhou and Gutman on the relation between the Laplacian coefficients and the matching numbers in subdivided bipartite graphs, we characterize first the trees with given diameter and then the connected graphs with given radius which simultaneously minimize all Laplacian coefficients. This approach generalizes recent results of Liu and Pan [MATCH Commun. Math. Comput. Chem. 60 (2008), 85--94] and Wang and Guo [MATCH Commun. Math. Comput. Chem. 60 (2008), 609--622] who characterized $n$-vertex trees with fixed diameter $d$ which minimize the Wiener index. In conclusion, we illustrate on examples with Wiener and modified hyper-Wiener index that the opposite problem of simultaneously maximizing all Laplacian coefficients has no solution.
Ivan Damnjanović, Marko Milošević, Dragan Stevanović
We note here that the problem of determining extremal values of Sombor index for trees with a given degree sequence fits within the framework of results by Hua Wang from [Cent. Eur. J. Math. 12 (2014) 1656-1663], implying that the greedy tree has the minimum Sombor index, while an alternating greedy tree has the maximum Sombor index.
Ivan Damnjanović, Slobodan Filipovski, Dragan Stevanović
We investigate the spectral properties of balanced trees and dendrimers, with a view toward unifying and improving the existing results. Here we find a semi-factorized formula for their characteristic polynomials. Afterwards, we determine their spectra via the aforementioned factors. In the end, we analyze the behavior of the energy of dendrimers and compute lower and upper bound approximations for it.
Péter Csikvári, Ivan Damnjanović, Dragan Stevanović, Stephan Wagner
The spectral radius of a graph is the spectral radius of its adjacency matrix. A threshold graph is a simple graph whose vertices can be ordered as $v_1, v_2, \ldots, v_n$, so that for each $2 \le i \le n$, vertex $v_i$ is either adjacent or nonadjacent simultaneously to all of $v_1, v_2, \ldots, v_{i-1}$. Brualdi and Hoffman initially posed and then partially solved the extremal problem of finding the simple graphs with a given number of edges that have the maximum spectral radius. This problem was subsequently completely resolved by Rowlinson. Here, we deal with the similar problem of maximizing the spectral radius over the set of connected simple graphs with a given number of vertices and edges. As shown by Brualdi and Solheid, each such extremal graph is necessarily a threshold graph. We investigate the spectral radii of threshold graphs by relying on computations involving lazy walks. Furthermore, we obtain three lower bounds and one upper bound on the spectral radius of a given connected threshold graph.
Nino Bašić, Ivan Damnjanović, Dragan Stevanović, Ivan Stošić
Let $k \in \mathbb{N}$ and let $H_1, H_2, \ldots, H_k$ be simple graphs such that for each $j \in \{ 1, 2, \ldots, k \}$, the vertex set of $H_j$ is $\{ 0, 1, 2, \ldots, n_j - 1 \}$ for some $n_j \in \mathbb{N}$. The ordered Ramsey number $R_\mathrm{ord}(H_1, H_2, \ldots, H_k)$ is the smallest $n \in \mathbb{N}$ for which every $k$-edge-coloring of the complete graph on the vertex set $\{ 0, 1, 2, \ldots, n - 1 \}$ contains $H_j$ as a monochromatic subgraph of color $j$ for some $j \in \{ 1, 2, \ldots, k \}$, with the vertices appearing in the same order as in $H_j$. Inspired by the work of Poljak, we apply the Kissat SAT solver to determine new small two-color ordered Ramsey numbers of various classes of graphs: monotone paths, monotone cycles, alternating paths, stars, complete graphs and nested matchings. In addition, we introduce the cyclic Ramsey numbers $R_\mathrm{cyc}(H_1, H_2, \ldots, H_k)$ as a natural relaxation of the ordered Ramsey numbers, and once again use Kissat to determine various such numbers for the two-color case. By observing structural patterns in the computational results, we determine all ordered or cyclic Ramsey numbers for several pairs of classes of graphs. Furthermore, we obtain some bounds on ordered and cyclic Ramsey numbers where one argument is a connected graph, while the other is a monotone path or a monotone cycle. We also explore how reinforcement learning can be used through the recently developed Reinforcement Learning for Graph Theory (RLGT) framework to obtain lower bounds on ordered and cyclic Ramsey numbers. Finally, we introduce the permutational Ramsey numbers to show how the different Ramsey-type formulations involving standard, ordered and cyclic Ramsey numbers can be unified within a group-theoretic framework.
Ivan Damnjanović, Uroš Milivojević, Irena Đorđević, Dragan Stevanović
Reinforcement learning (RL) is a subfield of machine learning that focuses on developing models that can autonomously learn optimal decision-making strategies over time. In a recent pioneering paper, Wagner demonstrated how the Deep Cross-Entropy RL method can be applied to tackle various problems from extremal graph theory by reformulating them as combinatorial optimization problems. Subsequently, many researchers became interested in refining and extending the framework introduced by Wagner, thereby creating various RL environments specialized for graph theory. Moreover, a number of problems from extremal graph theory were solved through the use of RL. In particular, several inequalities concerning the Laplacian spectral radius of graphs were refuted, new lower bounds were obtained for certain Ramsey numbers, and contributions were made to the Turán-type extremal problem in which the forbidden structures are cycles of length three and four. Here, we present Reinforcement Learning for Graph Theory (RLGT), a novel RL framework that systematizes the previous work and provides support for both undirected and directed graphs, with or without loops, and with an arbitrary number of edge colors. The framework efficiently represents graphs and aims to facilitate future RL-based research in extremal graph theory through optimized computational performance and a clean and modular design.
Yaser Alizadeh, Nino Bašić, Ivan Damnjanović, Tomislav Došlić, Tomaž Pisanski, Dragan Stevanović, Kexiang Xu
A nonnegative integer $p$ is realizable by a graph-theoretical invariant $I$ if there exist a graph $G$ such that $I(G) = p$. The inverse problem for $I$ consists of finding all nonnegative integers $p$ realizable by $I$. In this paper, we consider and solve the inverse problem for the Mostar index, a recently introduced graph-theoretical invariant which attracted a lot of attention in recent years in both the mathematical and the chemical community. We show that a nonnegative integer is realizable by the Mostar index if and only if it is not equal to one. Besides presenting the complete solution to the problem, we also present some empirical observations and outline several open problems and possible directions for further research.
Ivan Damnjanović, Dragan Stevanović
Recently, Gutman [MATCH Commun. Math. Comput. Chem. 86 (2021) 11-16] defined a new graph invariant which is named the Sombor index $\mathrm{SO}(G)$ of a graph $G$ and is computed via the expression \[ \mathrm{SO}(G) = \sum_{u \sim v} \sqrt{\mathrm{deg}(u)^2 + \mathrm{deg}(v)^2} , \] where $\mathrm{deg}(u)$ represents the degree of the vertex $u$ in $G$ and the summing is performed across all the unordered pairs of adjacent vertices $u$ and $v$. Here we take into consideration the set of all the trees $\mathcal{T}_D$ that have a specified degree sequence $D$ and show that the greedy tree attains the minimum Sombor index on the set $\mathcal{T}_D$.
Aleksandar Ilić, Dragan Stevanović
Let $G=(V,E)$ be a simple graph with $n = |V|$ vertices and $m = |E|$ edges. The first and second Zagreb indices are among the oldest and the most famous topological indices, defined as $M_1 = \sum_{i \in V} d_i^2$ and $M_2 = \sum_{(i, j) \in E} d_i d_j$, where $d_i$ denote the degree of vertex $i$. Recently proposed conjecture $M_1 / n \leqslant M_2 / m$ has been proven to hold for trees, unicyclic graphs and chemical graphs, while counterexamples were found for both connected and disconnected graphs. Our goal is twofold, both in favor of a conjecture and against it. Firstly, we show that the expressions $M_1/n$ and $M_2/m$ have the same lower and upper bounds, which attain equality for and only for regular graphs. We also establish sharp lower bound for variable first and second Zagreb indices. Secondly, we show that for any fixed number $k\geqslant 2$, there exists a connected graph with $k$ cycles for which $M_1/n>M_2/m$ holds, effectively showing that the conjecture cannot hold unless there exists some kind of limitation on the number of cycles or the maximum vertex degree in a graph. In particular, we show that the conjecture holds for subdivision graphs.