Maximum Independent Set when excluding an induced minor: $K_1 + tK_2$ and $tC_3 \uplus C_4$

TL;DR

This paper develops polynomial and quasipolynomial algorithms for the Maximum Independent Set problem in graphs excluding specific induced minors, notably the friendship graph and a union of triangles and a cycle, advancing the understanding of algorithmic graph exclusion.

Contribution

It provides the first polynomial-time algorithm for graphs excluding the friendship graph as an induced minor and a quasipolynomial algorithm for excluding a union of triangles and a cycle.

Findings

Polynomial-time algorithm for friendship graph exclusion.

Quasipolynomial algorithm for union of triangles and a cycle.

Extends previous results on induced subgraph exclusions.

Abstract

Dallard, Milani\v{c}, and \v{S}torgel [arXiv '22] ask if for every class excluding a fixed planar graph $H$ as an induced minor, Maximum Independent Set can be solved in polynomial time, and show that this is indeed the case when $H$ is any planar complete bipartite graph, or the 5-vertex clique minus one edge, or minus two disjoint edges. A positive answer would constitute a far-reaching generalization of the state-of-the-art, when we currently do not know if a polynomial-time algorithm exists when $H$ is the 7-vertex path. Relaxing tractability to the existence of a quasipolynomial-time algorithm, we know substantially more. Indeed, quasipolynomial-time algorithms were recently obtained for the $t$-vertex cycle, $C_t$ [Gartland et al., STOC '21] and the disjoint union of $t$ triangles, $tC_3$ [Bonamy et al., SODA '23]. We give, for every integer $t$, a polynomial-time algorithm running in $n^{O(t^5)}$ when $H$ is the friendship graph $K_1 + tK_2$ ($t$ disjoint edges plus a vertex fully adjacent to them), and a quasipolynomial-time algorithm running in $n^{O(t^2 \log n)+f(t)}$, with $f$ a single-exponential function, when $H$ is $tC_3 \uplus C_4$ (the disjoint union of $t$ triangles and a 4-vertex cycle). The former extends a classical result on graphs excluding $tK_2$ as an induced subgraph [Alekseev, DAM '07], while the latter extends Bonamy et al.'s result.