Classification of edges in a general graph associated with the change in multiplicity of an eigenvalue

Abstract

ABSTRACT We investigate the change in the multiplicities of an eigenvalue of an Hermitian matrix whose graph is a general undirected graph, when an edge is removed from the graph. The same question when the graph is a tree has been investigated in prior work. Here, we give possible classifications of edges in a general graph in terms of the statuses of adjacent vertices. It turns out that there are four cases that do occur in a general graph but cannot occur in a tree.