Linear kernels for k-tuple and liar's domination in bounded genus graphs

TL;DR

This paper investigates the computational complexity of k-tuple and liar's domination problems in graphs, showing they are hard in general but have efficient solutions in graphs with bounded genus.

Contribution

It proves the problems are W[2]-hard in general graphs but admits linear kernels in graphs with bounded genus, advancing understanding of their parameterized complexity.

Findings

NP-complete for general graphs

W[2]-hardness established

Linear kernels exist for bounded genus graphs

Abstract

A set $D\subseteq V$ is called a $k$-tuple dominating set of a graph $G=(V,E)$ if $\left| N_G[v] \cap D \right| \geq k$ for all $v \in V$, where $N_G[v]$ denotes the closed neighborhood of $v$. A set $D \subseteq V$ is called a liar's dominating set of a graph $G=(V,E)$ if (i) $\left| N_G[v] \cap D \right| \geq 2$ for all $v\in V$ and (ii) for every pair of distinct vertices $u, v\in V$, $\left| (N_G[u] \cup N_G[v]) \cap D \right| \geq 3$. Given a graph $G$, the decision versions of $k$-Tuple Domination Problem and the Liar's Domination Problem are to check whether there exists a $k$-tuple dominating set and a liar's dominating set of $G$ of a given cardinality, respectively. These two problems are known to be NP-complete \cite{LiaoChang2003, Slater2009}. In this paper, we study the parameterized complexity of these problems. We show that the $k$-Tuple Domination Problem and the Liar's Domination Problem are $\mathsf{W}[2]$-hard for general graphs but they admit linear kernels for graphs with bounded genus.