English

The sequence of prime gaps is graphic

Combinatorics 2024-11-18 v2 Number Theory

Abstract

Let us call a simple graph on n2n\geq 2 vertices a prime gap graph if its vertex degrees are 11 and the first n1n-1 prime gaps. We show that such a graph exists for every large nn, and in fact for every n2n\geq 2 if we assume the Riemann hypothesis. Moreover, an infinite sequence of prime gap graphs can be generated by the so-called degree preserving growth process. This is the first time a naturally occurring infinite sequence of positive integers is identified as graphic. That is, we show the existence of an interesting, and so far unique, infinite combinatorial object.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2205.00580,
  title  = {The sequence of prime gaps is graphic},
  author = {Péter L. Erdős and Gergely Harcos and Shubha R. Kharel and Péter Maga and Tamás R. Mezei and Zoltán Toroczkai},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2205.00580},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

14 pages, LaTeX2e; v2: revised version incorporating suggestions by the referee (e.g. the formal remarks below Theorems 2.2 and 2.4 are new)

R2 v1 2026-06-24T11:04:07.169Z