Efficiently sampling the realizations of irregular, but linearly bounded bipartite and directed degree sequences

TL;DR

This paper establishes conditions under which swap Markov chains efficiently sample irregular bipartite and directed degree sequences, extending rapid mixing results to broader classes of degree sequences.

Contribution

The paper introduces new criteria for rapid mixing of swap Markov chains on irregular bipartite and directed degree sequences, broadening applicability beyond regular sequences.

Findings

Rapid mixing proven for certain irregular bipartite degree sequences

Applicable to directed degree sequences with similar parameters

Results complement existing models like Greenhill and Sfragara's work

Abstract

Since 1997 a considerable effort has been spent on the study of the swap (switch) Markov chains on graphic degree sequences. Several results were proved on rapidly mixing Markov chains on regular simple, on regular directed, on half-regular directed and on half-regular bipartite degree sequences. In this paper, the main result is the following: Let $U$ and $V$ be disjoint finite sets, and let $0 < c_1 \le c_2 < |U|$ and $0 < d_1 \le d_2 < |V|$ be integers. Furthermore, assume that the bipartite degree sequence on $U \cup V$ satisfies $c_1 \le d(v) \le c_2\ : \ \forall v\in V$ and $d_1 \le d(u) \le d_2 \ : \ \forall u\in U$. Finally assume that $(c_2-c_1 -1)(d_2 -d_1 -1) < 1 + \max \{c_1(|V| -d_2), d_1(|V|- c_2) \}$. Then the swap Markov chain on this bipartite degree sequence is rapidly mixing. The technique applies on directed degree sequences as well, with very similar parameter values. These results are germane to the recent results of Greenhill and Sfragara about fast mixing MCMC processes on simple and directed degree sequences, where the maximum degrees are $O(\sqrt{\# \mbox{ of edges}})$. The results are somewhat comparable on directed degree sequences: while the GS results are better applicable for degree sequences developed under some scale-free random process, our new results are better fitted to degree sequences developed under the Erd\H{o}s -- R\'enyi model. For example our results cover all regular degree sequences, the GS model is not applicable when the average degree is $ > n/16.$