Abstract
A 2-factorization of a simple graph \(\Gamma \) is called \(2\)-pyramidal if it admits an automorphism group \(G\) fixing two vertices and acting sharply transitively on the others. Here we show that such a \(2\)-factorization may exist only if \(\Gamma \) is a cocktail party graph, i.e., \(\Gamma = K_{2n}-I\) with \(I\) being a \(1\)-factor. It will be said of the first or second type according to whether the involutions of \(G\) form a unique conjugacy class or not. As far as we are aware, \(2\)-factorizations of the second type are completely new. We will prove, in particular, that \(K_{2n}-I\) admits a 2-pyramidal 2-factorization of the second type if and only if \(n\equiv 1\) (mod 8).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, B.A., Ihrig, E.C.: Every finite solvable group with a unique element of order two, except the quaternion group, has a symmetric sequencing. J. Comb. Des. 1, 3–14 (1993)
Bonvicini, S., Mazzuoccolo, G., Rinaldi, G.: On \(2\)-factorizations of the complete graph: from the \(k\)-pyramidal to the universal property. J. Comb. Des. 17, 211–228 (2009)
Bryant, D., Danziger, P.: On bipartite \(2-\)factorizations of \(K_n - I\) and the Oberwolfach problem. J. Graph Theory 68, 22–37 (2011)
Bryant, D., Rodger, C.: Cycle decompositions. In: Colbourn, C.J., Dinitz, J.H. (eds.) The CRC Handbook of Combinatorial Designs, 2nd edn, pp. 373–382. CRC Press, Boca Raton (2007)
Bryant, D., Scharaschkin, V.: Complete solutions to the Oberwolfach problem for an infinite set of orders. J. Comb. Theory B 99, 904–918 (2009)
Brualdi, R.A., Schroeder, M.W.: Symmetric Hamilton cycle decompositions of complete graphs minus a \(1\)-factor. J. Comb. Des. 19, 1–15 (2011)
Buratti, M., Del Fra, A.: Cyclic Hamiltonian cycle systems of the complete graph. Discrete Math. 279, 107–119 (2004)
Buratti, M., Merola, F.: Dihedral Hamiltonian cycle systems of the cocktail party graph. J. Comb. Des 21, 1–23 (2013)
Buratti, M., Merola, F.: Hamiltonian cycle systems which are both cyclic and symmetric, J. Comb. Des. doi:10.1002/jcd.21351
Buratti, M., Rania, F., Zuanni, F.: Some constructions for cyclic perfect cycle systems. Discrete Math. 299, 33–48 (2005)
Buratti, M., Rinaldi, G.: On sharply vertex transitive 2-factorizations of the complete graph. J. Comb. Theory A 111, 245–256 (2005)
Buratti, M., Rinaldi, G.: \(1\)-Rotational \(k\)-factorizations of the complete graph and new solutions to the Oberwolfach problem. J. Comb. Des. 16, 87–100 (2008)
Buratti, M., Rinaldi, G.: A non-existence result on cyclic cycle-decompositions of the cocktail party graph. Discrete Math. 309, 4722–4726 (2009)
Buratti, M., Rinaldi, G., Traetta, T.: Some results on \(1\)-rotational Hamiltonian cycle systems. J. Comb. Des. doi:10.1002/jcd.21352
Buratti, M., Traetta, T.: 2-Starters, graceful labelings and a doubling construction for the Oberwolfach Problem. J. Comb. Des. 20, 483–503 (2012)
Buratti, M., Zuanni, F.: \(G\)-invariantly resolvable Steiner 2-designs which are \(1\)-rotational over \(G\). Bull. Belg. Math. Soc. 5, 221–235 (1998)
Buratti, M., Zuanni, F.: Explicit constructions for \(1\)-rotational Kirkman triple systems. Utilitas Math. 59, 27–30 (2001)
Evans, A.B.: Complete mappings and sequencings of finite groups. In: Colbourn, C.J., Dinitz, J.H. (eds.) The CRC Handbook of Combinatorial Designs, 2nd edn, pp. 345–352. CRC Press, Boca Raton (2007)
Gorenstein, D.: Finite groups. Harper and Row, New York (1968)
Häggkvist, R.: A lemma on cycle decompositions. Ann. Discrete Math. 27, 227–232 (1985)
Huang, C., Kotzig, A., Rosa, A.: On a variation of the Oberwolfach problem. Discrete Math. 27, 261–277 (1979)
Kaplan, G., Lev, A., Roditty, Y.: Regular Oberwolfach problems and group sequencings. J. Comb. Theory A 96, 1–19 (2001)
Lucas, E.: Recreations Mathematiques, vol. II, Paris (1892)
Ollis, M.A.: Some cyclic solutions to the three table Oberwolfach problem. Electron. J. Comb. 12 (2005)
Ollis, M.A., Preece, D.A.: Sectionable terraces and the (generalised) Oberwolfach Problem. Discrete Math. 266, 399–416 (2003)
Ollis, M.A., Sterr, A.D.: From graceful labellings of paths to cyclic solutions of the Oberwolfach problem. Discrete Math. 309, 4877–4882 (2009)
Ollis, M.A., Willmott, D.T.: On twizzler, zigzag and graceful terraces. Aust. J. Comb. 51, 243–257 (2011)
Rinaldi, G., Traetta, T.: Graph products and new solutions to Oberwolfach problems. Electron. J. Comb. 18, P52 (2011)
Schroeder, M.W.: \(\varphi \)-symmetric Hamilton cycle decompositions of graphs, preprint.
Traetta, T.: Some new results on \(1\)-rotational \(2\)-factorizations of the complete graph. J. Comb. Des. 18, 237–247 (2010)
Traetta, T.: A complete solution to the two-table Oberwolfach problems. J. Comb. Theory A 120, 984–997 (2013)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Work performed under the auspicies of the G.N.S.A.G.A. of the C.N.R. (National Research Council) of Italy and supported by M.I.U.R. project “Disegni combinatorici, grafi e loro applicazioni, PRIN 2008”. The second author is supported by a fellowship of INdAM.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Buratti, M., Traetta, T. The Structure of \(2\)-Pyramidal \(2\)-Factorizations. Graphs and Combinatorics 31, 523–535 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00373-014-1408-2
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00373-014-1408-2