Gray code numbers of complete multipartite graphs
Date
2014-12-23
Authors
Bard, Stefan
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Abstract
Let G be a graph and k be an integer greater than or equal to the chromatic number of G. The k-colouring graph of G is the graph whose vertices are k-colourings of G, with two colourings adjacent if they colour exactly one vertex differently. We explore the Hamiltonicity and connectivity of such graphs, with particular focus on the k-colouring graphs of complete multipartite graphs. We determine the connectivity of the k-colouring graph of the complete graph on n vertices for all n, and show that the k-colouring graph of a complete multipartite graph K is 2-connected whenever k is at least the chromatic number of K plus one. Additionally, we examine a conjecture that every connected k-colouring graph is 2-connected, and give counterexamples for k greater than or equal to 4. As our main result, we show that for all k greater than or equal to 2t, the k-colouring graph of a complete t-partite graph is Hamiltonian. Finally, we characterize the complete multipartite graphs K whose k-colouring graphs are Hamiltonian when k is the chromatic number of K plus one.
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Keywords
Graph Theory, Hamilton Cycle, Gray Code, Colouring Graph, Connectivity, Complete Multipartite