Regularity of bicyclic graphs and their powers

Abstract

Let [Formula: see text] be the edge ideal of a bicyclic graph [Formula: see text] with a dumbbell as the base graph. In this paper, we characterize the Castelnuovo–Mumford regularity of [Formula: see text] in terms of the induced matching number of [Formula: see text]. For the base case of this family of graphs, i.e. dumbbell graphs, we explicitly compute the induced matching number. Moreover, we prove that [Formula: see text], for all [Formula: see text], when [Formula: see text] is a dumbbell graph with a connecting path having no more than two vertices.