On small graphs critical with respect to edge colourings

Abstract

A simple graph is said to be of class 1 or of class 2 according as its chromatic index equals the maximum degree or is one greater. A graph of class 2 is called critical if all its proper subgraphs have smaller chromatic index. It has been conjectured by Beineke and Wilson and by Jakobsen that all critical graphs have odd order. In this paper we verify the truth of this conjecture for all graphs of order less than 12 and all graphs of order 12 and maximum degree 3. We also determine all critical graphs through order 7.