English

Linked tree-decompositions into finite parts

Combinatorics 2024-05-14 v1

Abstract

We prove that every graph which admits a tree-decomposition into finite parts has a rooted tree-decomposition into finite parts that is linked, tight and componental. As an application, we obtain that every graph without half-grid minor has a lean tree-decomposition into finite parts, strengthening the corresponding result by Kriz and Thomas for graphs of finitely bounded tree-width. In particular, it follows that every graph without half-grid minor has a tree-decomposition which efficiently distinguishes all ends and critical vertex sets, strengthening results by Carmesin and by Elm and Kurkofka for this graph class. As a second application of our main result, it follows that every graph which admits a tree-decomposition into finite parts has a tree-decomposition into finite parts that displays all the ends of GG and their combined degrees, resolving a question of Halin from 1977. This latter tree-decomposition yields short, unified proofs of the characterisations due to Robertson, Seymour and Thomas of graphs without half-grid minor, and of graphs without binary tree subdivision.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2405.06753,
  title  = {Linked tree-decompositions into finite parts},
  author = {Sandra Albrechtsen and Raphael W. Jacobs and Paul Knappe and Max Pitz},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2405.06753},
  year   = {2024}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-28T16:23:41.796Z