English

Minimum embedding of any Steiner triple system into a 3-sun system via matchings

Combinatorics 2020-05-26 v1

Abstract

Let GG be a simple finite graph and GG' be a subgraph of GG. A GG'-design (X,B)(X,\cal B) of order nn is said to be embedded into a GG-design (XU,C)(X\cup U,\cal C) of order n+un+u, if there is an injective function f:BCf:\cal B\rightarrow \cal C such that BB is a subgraph of f(B)f(B) for every BBB\in\cal B. The function ff is called an embedding of (X,B)(X,\cal B) into (XU,C)(X\cup U,\cal C). If uu attains the minimum possible value, then ff is a minimum embedding. Here, by means of K\"{o}nig's Line Coloring Theorem and edge coloring properties a complete solution is given to the problem of determining a minimum embedding of any K3K_3-design (well-known as Steiner Triple System or, shortly, STS) into a 3-sun system or, shortly, a 3SS (i.e., a GG-design where GG is a graph on six vertices consisting of a triangle with three pendant edges which form a 1-factor).

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2005.11373,
  title  = {Minimum embedding of any Steiner triple system into a 3-sun system via matchings},
  author = {Giovanni Lo Faro and Antoinette Tripodi},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2005.11373},
  year   = {2020}
}