English

On the cover time of planar graphs

Probability 2008-11-26 v3

Abstract

The cover time of a finite connected graph is the expected number of steps needed for a simple random walk on the graph to visit all the vertices. It is known that the cover time on any n-vertex, connected graph is at least (1+o(1)) n log(n) and at most (1+o(1))(4/27)n^3. This paper proves that for bounded-degree planar graphs the cover time is at least c n(log n)^2, and at most 6n^2, where c is a positive constant depending only on the maximal degree of the graph. The lower bound is established via use of circle packings.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.math/0002034,
  title  = {On the cover time of planar graphs},
  author = {Johan Jonasson and Oded Schramm},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math/0002034},
  year   = {2008}
}

Comments

To appear in Electronic Communications in Probability

R2 v1 2026-07-22T16:31:04.304Z