Clustered 3-Colouring Graphs of Bounded Degree


Abstract in English

A (not necessarily proper) vertex colouring of a graph has clustering $c$ if every monochromatic component has at most $c$ vertices. We prove that planar graphs with maximum degree $Delta$ are 3-colourable with clustering $O(Delta^2)$. The previous best bound was $O(Delta^{37})$. This result for planar graphs generalises to graphs that can be drawn on a surface of bounded Euler genus with a bounded number of crossings per edge. We then prove that graphs with maximum degree $Delta$ that exclude a fixed minor are 3-colourable with clustering $O(Delta^5)$. The best previous bound for this result was exponential in $Delta$.

Download