Clique-Based Separators for Geometric Intersection Graphs

Abstract

Let F be a set of n objects in the plane and let mathcal {G}^{times }(F) be its intersection graph. A balanced clique-based separator of mathcal {G}^{times }(F) is a set mathcal {mathcal {S}} consisting of cliques whose removal partitions mathcal {G}^{times }(F) into components of size at most delta n, for some fixed constant delta <1. The weight of a clique-based separator is defined as sum _{Cin mathcal {mathcal {S}}}log (|C|+1). Recently De Berg et al. (SIAM J. Comput. 49: 1291-1331. 2020) proved that if S consists of convex fat objects, then mathcal {G}^{times }(F) admits a balanced clique-based separator of weight O(sqrt{n}). We extend this result in several directions, obtaining the following results. (i) Map graphs admit a balanced clique-based separator of weight O(sqrt{n}), which is tight in the worst case. (ii) Intersection graphs of pseudo-disks admit a balanced clique-based separator of weight O(n^{2/3}log n). If the pseudo-disks are polygonal and of total complexity O(n) then the weight of the separator improves to O(sqrt{n}log n). (iii) Intersection graphs of geodesic disks inside a simple polygon admit a balanced clique-based separator of weight O(n^{2/3}log n). (iv) Visibility-restricted unit-disk graphs in a polygonal domain with r reflex vertices admit a balanced clique-based separator of weight O(sqrt{n}+rlog (n/r)), which is tight in the worst case. These results immediately imply sub-exponential algorithms for Maximum Independent Set (and, hence, Vertex Cover), for Feedback Vertex Set, and for q-Coloring for constant q in these graph classes.