On algebraic connectivity as a function of an edge weight

Abstract

We consider the Laplacian matrix of a weighted graph, and how the algebraic connectivity, α, behaves when considered as a function of a single edge weight. Under suitable differentiability conditions, we bound the first derivative of α from above, show that α is necessarily concave down, and produce a lower bound on the second derivative of α. When α is simple, we discuss the effect of increasing an edge weight on the corresponding Fiedler vector. We also compute the limiting value of α as the edge weight increases to infinity.