On the dominator coloring in proper interval graphs and block graphs

Abstract

In a graph [Formula: see text], a vertex [Formula: see text] dominates a vertex [Formula: see text] if either [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] is adjacent to [Formula: see text]. A subset of vertex set [Formula: see text] that dominates all the vertices of [Formula: see text] is called a dominating set of graph [Formula: see text]. The minimum cardinality of a dominating set of [Formula: see text] is called the domination number of [Formula: see text] and is denoted by [Formula: see text]. A proper coloring of a graph [Formula: see text] is an assignment of colors to the vertices of [Formula: see text] such that any two adjacent vertices get different colors. The minimum number of colors required for a proper coloring of [Formula: see text] is called the chromatic number of [Formula: see text] and is denoted by [Formula: see text]. A dominator coloring of a graph [Formula: see text] is a proper coloring of the vertices of [Formula: see text] such that every vertex dominates all the vertices of at least one color class. The minimum number of colors required for a dominator coloring of [Formula: see text] is called the dominator chromatic number of [Formula: see text] and is denoted by [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we study the dominator chromatic number for the proper interval graphs and block graphs. We show that every proper interval graph [Formula: see text] satisfies [Formula: see text], and these bounds are sharp. For a block graph [Formula: see text], where one of the end block is of maximum size, we show that [Formula: see text]. We also characterize the block graphs with an end block of maximum size and attaining the lower bound.