Finding a Shortest Even Hole in Polynomial Time

TL;DR

This paper presents the first polynomial-time algorithm, with a complexity of O(n^{31}), for finding the shortest even hole in a graph, resolving a 15-year open problem in graph theory.

Contribution

It introduces the first known polynomial-time algorithm for detecting the shortest even hole in graphs, advancing understanding of graph hole detection complexity.

Findings

Developed an O(n^{31}) time algorithm for shortest even hole detection.

Resolved a 15-year open problem in graph theory.

Extended techniques from odd hole detection to even holes.

Abstract

An even (respectively, odd) hole in a graph is an induced cycle with even (respectively, odd) length that is at least four. Bienstock [DM 1991 and 1992] proved that detecting an even (respectively, odd) hole containing a given vertex is NP-complete. Conforti, Chornu\'ejols, Kappor, and Vu\v{s}kovi\'{c} [FOCS 1997] gave the first known polynomial-time algorithm to determine whether a graph contains even holes. Chudnovsky, Kawarabayashi, and Seymour [JGT 2005] estimated that Conforti et al.'s algorithm runs in $O(n^{40})$ time on an $n$-vertex graph and reduced the required time to $O(n^{31})$. Subsequently, da~Silva and Vu\v{s}kovi\'{c}~[JCTB 2013], Chang and Lu [JCTB 2017], and Lai, Lu, and Thorup [STOC 2020] improved the time to $O(n^{19})$, $O(n^{11})$, and $O(n^9)$, respectively. The tractability of determining whether a graph contains odd holes has been open for decades until the algorithm of Chudnovsky, Scott, Seymour, and Spirkl [JACM 2020] that runs in $O(n^9)$ time, which Lai et al. also reduced to $O(n^8)$. By extending Chudnovsky et al.'s techniques for detecting odd holes, Chudnovsky, Scott, and Seymour [Combinatorica 2020 to appear] (respectively, [arXiv 2020]) ensured the tractability of finding a long (respectively, shortest) odd hole. They also ensured the NP-hardness of finding a longest odd hole, whose reduction also works for finding a longest even hole. Recently, Cook and Seymour ensured the tractability of finding a long even hole. An intriguing missing piece is the tractability of finding a shortest even hole, left open for at least 15 years by, e.g., Chudnovsky et al. [JGT 2005] and Johnson [TALG 2005]. We resolve this long-standing open problem by giving the first known polynomial-time algorithm, running in $O(n^{31})$ time, for finding a shortest even hole in an $n$-vertex graph that contains even holes.