Ramsey Theory Research Articles

Riemannian Manifolds, Closed Geodesic Lines, Topology and Ramsey Theory

We applied the Ramsey analysis to the sets of points belonging to Riemannian manifolds. The points are connected with two kinds of lines: geodesic and non-geodesic. This interconnection between the points is mapped into the bi-colored, complete Ramsey graph. The selected points correspond to the vertices of the graph, which are connected with the bi-colored links. The complete bi-colored graph containing six vertices inevitably contains at least one mono-colored triangle; hence, a mono-colored triangle, built of the green or red links, i.e., non-geodesic or geodesic lines, consequently appears in the graph. We also considered the bi-colored, complete Ramsey graphs emerging from the intersection of two Riemannian manifolds. Two Riemannian manifolds, namely (M1,g1) and (M2,g2), represented by the Riemann surfaces which intersect along the curve (M1,g1)∩(M2,g2)=ℒ were addressed. Curve ℒ does not contain geodesic lines in either of the manifolds (M1,g1) and (M2,g2). Consider six points located on the ℒ: {1,…6}⊂ℒ. The points {1,…6}⊂ℒ are connected with two distinguishable kinds of the geodesic lines, namely with the geodesic lines belonging to the Riemannian manifold (M1,g1)/red links, and, alternatively, with the geodesic lines belonging to the manifold (M2,g2)/green links. Points {1,…6}⊂ℒ form the vertices of the complete graph, connected with two kinds of links. The emerging graph contains at least one closed geodesic line. The extension of the theorem to the Riemann surfaces of various Euler characteristics is presented.

The classification of Boolean degree 1 functions in high-dimensional finite vector spaces

We classify the Boolean degree 1 1 functions of k k -spaces in a vector space of dimension n n (also known as Cameron-Liebler classes) over the field with q q elements for n ≥ n 0 ( k , q ) n \geq n_0(k, q) . This also implies that two-intersecting sets with respect to k k -spaces do not exist for n ≥ n 0 ( k , q ) n \geq n_0(k, q) . Our main ingredient is the Ramsey theory for geometric lattices.

On Generalizations of Pairwise Compatibility Graphs

A graph $G$ is a pairwise compatibility graph (PCG) if there exists an edge-weighted tree and an interval $I$, such that each leaf of the tree is a vertex of the graph, and there is an edge $\{ x, y \}$ in $G$ if and only if the weight of the path in the tree connecting $x$ and $y$ lies within the interval $I$. Originating in phylogenetics, PCGs are closely connected to important graph classes like leaf-powers and multi-threshold graphs, widely applied in bioinformatics, especially in understanding evolutionary processes. In this paper we introduce two natural generalizations of the PCG class, namely $k$-OR-PCG and $k$-AND-PCG, which are the classes of graphs that can be expressed as union and intersection, respectively, of $k$ PCGs. These classes can be also described using the concepts of the covering number and the intersection dimension of a graph in relation to the PCG class. We investigate how the classes of OR-PCG and AND-PCG are related to PCGs, $k$-interval-PCGs and other graph classes known in the literature. In particular, we provide upper bounds on the minimum $k$ for which an arbitrary graph $G$ belongs to $k$-interval-PCGs, $k$-OR-PCG or $k$-AND-PCG classes. For particular graph classes we improve these general bounds. Moreover, we show that, for every integer $k$, there exists a bipartite graph that is not in the $k$-interval-PCGs class, proving that there is no finite $k$ for which the $k$-interval-PCG class contains all the graphs. This answers an open question of Ahmed and Rahman from 2017. Finally, using a Ramsey theory argument, we show that for any $k$, there exists graphs that are not in $k$-AND-PCG, and graphs that are not in $k$-OR-PCG.

Ramsey theory constructions from hypergraph matchings

We give asymptotically optimal constructions in generalized Ramsey theory using results about conflict-free hypergraph matchings. For example, we present an edge-coloring of K n , n K_{n,n} with 2 n / 3 + o ( n ) 2n/3 + o(n) colors such that each 4 4 -cycle receives at least three colors on its edges. This answers a question of Axenovich, Füredi and the second author [J. Combin. Theory Ser B 79 (2000), pp. 66–86]. We also exhibit an edge-coloring of K n K_n with 5 n / 6 + o ( n ) 5n/6+o(n) colors that assigns each copy of K 4 K_4 at least five colors. This gives an alternative very short solution to an old question of Erdős and Gyárfás [Combinatorica 17 (1997), pp. 459–467] that was recently answered by Bennett, Cushman, Dudek, and Prałat [J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 169 (2024), pp. 253–297] by analyzing a colored modification of the triangle removal process.

On locally rainbow colourings

Given a graph H, let g(n,H) denote the smallest k for which the following holds. We can assign a k-colouring fv of the edge set of Kn to each vertex v in Kn with the property that for any copy T of H in Kn, there is some u∈V(T) such that every edge in T has a different colour in fu.The study of this function was initiated by Alon and Ben-Eliezer. They characterized the family of graphs H for which g(n,H) is bounded and asked whether it is true that for every other graph g(n,H) is polynomial. We show that this is not the case and characterize the family of connected graphs H for which g(n,H) grows polynomially. Answering another question of theirs, we also prove that for every ε>0, there is some r=r(ε) such that g(n,Kr)≥n1−ε for all sufficiently large n.Finally, we show that the above problem is connected to the Erdős–Gyárfás function in Ramsey Theory, and prove a family of special cases of a conjecture of Conlon, Fox, Lee and Sudakov by showing that for each fixed r the complete r-uniform hypergraph Kn(r) can be edge-coloured using a subpolynomial number of colours in such a way that at least r colours appear among any r+1 vertices.

A Complexity Dichotomy in Spatial Reasoning via Ramsey Theory

Constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs) for first-order reducts of finitely bounded homogeneous structures form a large class of computational problems that might exhibit a complexity dichotomy, P versus NP-complete. A powerful method to obtain polynomial-time tractability results for such CSPs is a certain reduction to polynomial-time tractable finite-domain CSPs defined over k -types, for a sufficiently large k . We give sufficient conditions when this method can be applied and apply these conditions to obtain a new complexity dichotomy for CSPs of first-order expansions of the basic relations of the well-studied spatial reasoning formalism RCC5. We also classify which of these CSPs can be expressed in Datalog. Our method relies on Ramsey theory; we prove that RCC5 has a Ramsey order expansion.

Katětov order between Hindman, Ramsey and summable ideals

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Finite Ramsey theory through category theory

We present a new, category-theoretic point of view on finite Ramsey theory. Our aims are as follows: We also provide some concrete illustrations of the general method.

Big Ramsey degrees in ultraproducts of finite structures

We develop a transfer principle of structural Ramsey theory from finite structures to ultraproducts. We show that under certain mild conditions, when a class of finite structures has finite small Ramsey degrees, under the (Generalized) Continuum Hypothesis the ultraproduct has finite big Ramsey degrees for internal colorings. The necessity of restricting to internal colorings is demonstrated by the example of the ultraproduct of finite linear orders. Under CH, this ultraproduct L⁎ has, as a spine, η1, an uncountable analogue of the order type of rationals η. Finite big Ramsey degrees for η were exactly calculated by Devlin in [5]. It is immediate from [39] that η1 fails to have finite big Ramsey degrees. Moreover, we extend Devlin's coloring to η1 to show that it witnesses big Ramsey degrees of finite tuples in η on every copy of η in η1, and consequently in L⁎. This work gives additional confirmation that ultraproducts are a suitable environment for studying Ramsey properties of finite and infinite structures.

A threading path to a Ramsey number

The article describes a collaboration between an established artist and a professional mathematician. This at the same time accidental and, in the spirit of Ramsey theory, unavoidable collaboration has resulted in creating an artwork inspired by an edge 3-colouring of the complete graph on sixteen vertices that avoids monochromatic triangles.

Ramsey Problems for Monotone Paths in Graphs and Hypergraphs

The study of ordered Ramsey numbers of monotone paths for graphs and hypergraphs has a long history, going back to the celebrated work by Erdős and Szekeres in the early days of Ramsey theory. In this paper we obtain several results in this area, establishing two conjectures of Mubayi and Suk and improving bounds due to Balko, Cibulka, Král and Kynčl. For example, in the graph case, we show that the ordered Ramsey number for a fixed clique versus a fixed power of a monotone path of length n is always linear in n. Also, in the 3-graph case, we show that the ordered Ramsey number for a fixed clique versus a tight monotone path of length n is always polynomial in n. As a by-product, we also obtain a color-monotone version of the well-known Canonical Ramsey Theorem of Erdős and Rado, which could be of independent interest.

Alternating parity weak sequencing

AbstractA subset of a group is ‐weakly sequenceable if there is an ordering of its elements such that the partial sums , given by and for , satisfy whenever and . By Costa et al., it was proved that if the order of a group is then all sufficiently large subsets of the nonidentity elements are ‐weakly sequenceable when is prime, and . Inspired by this result, we show that, if is the semidirect product of and and the subset is balanced, then admits, regardless of its size, an alternating parity ‐weak sequencing whenever is prime and . A subset of is balanced if it contains the same number of even elements and odd elements and an alternating parity ordering alternates even and odd elements. Then using a hybrid approach that combines both Ramsey theory and the probabilistic method we also prove, for groups that are semidirect products of a generic (nonnecessarily abelian) group and , that all sufficiently large balanced subsets of the nonidentity elements admit an alternating parity ‐weak sequencing. The same procedure works also for studying the weak sequenceability for generic sufficiently large (not necessarily balanced) sets. Here we have been able to prove that, if the size of a subset of a group is large enough and if does not contain 0, then is ‐weakly sequenceable.

A Ramsey Theory of Financial Distortions

A Ramsey Theory of Financial Distortions

A limiting result for the Ramsey theory of functional equations

A limiting result for the Ramsey theory of functional equations

Milliken’s Tree Theorem and Its Applications: A Computability-Theoretic Perspective

Milliken’s tree theorem is a deep result in combinatorics that generalizes a vast number of other results in the subject, most notably Ramsey’s theorem and its many variants and consequences. In this sense, Milliken’s tree theorem is paradigmatic of structural Ramsey theory, which seeks to identify the common combinatorial and logical features of partition results in general. Its investigation in this area has consequently been extensive. Motivated by a question of Dobrinen, we initiate the study of Milliken’s tree theorem from the point of view of computability theory. The goal is to understand how close it is to being algorithmically solvable, and how computationally complex are the constructions needed to prove it. This kind of examination enjoys a long and rich history, and continues to be a highly active endeavor. Applied to combinatorial principles, particularly Ramsey’s theorem, it constitutes one of the most fruitful research programs in computability theory as a whole. The challenge to studying Milliken’s tree theorem using this framework is its unusually intricate proof, and more specifically, the proof of the Halpern-Laüchli theorem, which is a key ingredient. Our advance here stems from a careful analysis of the Halpern-Laüchli theorem which shows that it can be carried out effectively (i.e., that it is computably true). We use this as the basis of a new inductive proof of Milliken’s tree theorem that permits us to gauge its effectivity in turn. The key combinatorial tool we develop for the inductive step is a fast-growing computable function that can be used to obtain a finitary, or localized, version of Milliken’s tree theorem. This enables us to build solutions to the full Milliken’s tree theorem using effective forcing. The principal result of this is a full classification of the computable content of Milliken’s tree theorem in terms of the jump hierarchy, stratified by the size of instance. As usual, this also translates into the parlance of reverse mathematics, yielding a complete understanding of the fragment of second-order arithmetic required to prove Milliken’s tree theorem. We apply our analysis also to several well-known applications of Milliken’s tree theorem, namely Devlin’s theorem, a partition theorem for Rado graphs, and a generalized version of the so-called tree theorem of Chubb, Hirst, and McNicholl. These are all certain kinds of extensions of Ramsey’s theorem for different structures, namely the rational numbers, the Rado graph, and perfect binary trees, respectively. We obtain a number of new results about how these principles relate to Milliken’s tree theorem and to each other, in terms of both their computability-theoretic and combinatorial aspects. In particular, we establish new structural Ramsey-theoretic properties of the Rado graph theorem and the generalized Chubb-Hirst-McNicholl tree theorem using Zucker’s notion of big Ramsey structure.

Fermat Principle, Ramsey Theory and Metamaterials.

Reinterpretation of the Fermat principle governing the propagation of light in media within the Ramsey theory is suggested. Complete bi-colored graphs corresponding to light propagation in media are considered. The vertices of the graphs correspond to the points in real physical space in which the light sources or sensors are placed. Red links in the graphs correspond to the actual optical paths, emerging from the Fermat principle. A variety of optical events, such as refraction and reflection, may be involved in light propagation. Green links, in turn, denote the trial/virtual optical paths, which actually do not occur. The Ramsey theorem states that within the graph containing six points, inevitably, the actual or virtual optical cycle will be present. The implementation of the Ramsey theorem with regard to light propagation in metamaterials is discussed. The Fermat principle states that in metamaterials, a light ray, in going from point S to point P, must traverse an optical path length L that is stationary with respect to variations of this path. Thus, bi-colored graphs consisting of links corresponding to maxima or minima of the optical paths become possible. The graphs, comprising six vertices, will inevitably demonstrate optical cycles consisting of the mono-colored links corresponding to the maxima or minima of the optical path. The notion of the "inverse graph" is introduced and discussed. The total number of triangles in the "direct" (source) and "inverse" Ramsey optical graphs is the same. The applications of "Ramsey optics" are discussed, and an optical interpretation of the infinite Ramsey theorem is suggested.

More Ramsey theory for highly connected monochromatic subgraphs

Abstract An infinite graph is said to be highly connected if the induced subgraph on the complement of any set of vertices of smaller size is connected. We continue the study of weaker versions of Ramsey’s theorem on uncountable cardinals asserting that if we color edges of the complete graph, we can find a large highly connected monochromatic subgraph. In particular, several questions of Bergfalk, Hrušák, and Shelah (2021, Acta Mathematica Hungarica 163, 309–322) are answered by showing that assuming the consistency of suitable large cardinals, the following are relatively consistent with ZFC: • $\kappa \to _{hc} (\kappa )^2_\omega $ for every regular cardinal $\kappa \geq \aleph _2$ , • $\neg \mathsf {CH}+ \aleph _2 \to _{hc} (\aleph _1)^2_\omega $ . Building on a work of Lambie-Hanson (2023, Fundamenta Mathematicae. 260(2):181–197), we also show that • $\aleph _2 \to _{hc} [\aleph _2]^2_{\omega ,2}$ is consistent with $\neg \mathsf {CH}$ . To prove these results, we use the existence of ideals with strong combinatorial properties after collapsing suitable large cardinals.

Ramsey theory over partitions I: Positive Ramsey relations from forcing axioms

Ramsey theory over partitions I: Positive Ramsey relations from forcing axioms

Ramsey theory over partitions II: Negative Ramsey relations and pump-up theorems

Ramsey theory over partitions II: Negative Ramsey relations and pump-up theorems

On the Super (Edge)-Connectivity of Generalized Johnson Graphs

Let [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be non-negative integers. The generalized Johnson graph [Formula: see text] is the graph whose vertices are the [Formula: see text]-subsets of the set [Formula: see text], and two vertices are adjacent if and only if they intersect with [Formula: see text] elements. Special cases of generalized Johnson graph include the Kneser graph [Formula: see text] and the Johnson graph [Formula: see text]. These graphs play an important role in coding theory, Ramsey theory, combinatorial geometry and hypergraphs theory. In this paper, we discuss the connectivity properties of the Kneser graph [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] by their symmetric properties. Specifically, with the help of some properties of vertex/edge-transitive graphs we prove that [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] are super restricted edge-connected. Besides, we obtain the exact value of the restricted edge-connectivity and the cyclic edge-connectivity of the Kneser graph [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text], and further show that the Kneser graph [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] is super vertex-connected and super cyclically edge-connected.