English

Integer eigenvalues of the $n$-Queens graph

Combinatorics 2023-05-11 v2

Abstract

The nn-Queens graph, Q(n)\mathcal{Q}(n), is the graph obtained from a n×nn\times n chessboard where each of its n2n^2 squares is a vertex and two vertices are adjacent if and only if they are in the same row, column or diagonal. In a previous work the authors have shown that, for n4n\ge4, the least eigenvalue of Q(n)\mathcal{Q}(n) is 4-4 and its multiplicity is (n3)2(n-3)^2. In this paper we prove that n4n-4 is also an eigenvalue of Q(n)\mathcal{Q}(n) and its multiplicity is at least n+12\frac{n+1}{2} or n22\frac{n-2}{2} when nn is odd or even, respectively. Furthermore, when nn is odd, it is proved that 3,2,n112-3,-2\ldots,\frac{n-11}{2} and n52,,n5\frac{n-5}{2},\ldots,n-5 are additional integer eigenvalues of Q(n)\mathcal{Q}(n) and a family of eigenvectors associated with them is presented. Finally, conjectures about the multiplicity of the aforementioned eigenvalues and about the non-existence of any other integer eigenvalue are stated.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2301.08106,
  title  = {Integer eigenvalues of the $n$-Queens graph},
  author = {Domingos M. Cardoso and Inês Serôdio Costa and Rui Duarte},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2301.08106},
  year   = {2023}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-28T08:15:25.898Z