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A non-Markovian coupling for randomly sampling colorings

  • The University of Chicago

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study a simple Markov chain, known as the Glauber dynamics, for randomly sampling (proper) k-colorings of an input graph G on n vertices with maximum degree Δ and girth g. We prove the Glauber dynamics is close to the uniform distribution after O(n log n) steps whenever k > (1 + ε)Δ, for all ε > 0, assuming g ≥ 9 and Δ = Ω(log n). The best previously known bounds were k > 11Δ/6 for general graphs, and k > 1.489Δ for graphs satisfying girth and maximum degree requirements. Our proof relies on the construction and analysis of a non-Markovian coupling. This appears to be the first application of a non-Markovian coupling to substantially improve upon known results.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings - 44th Annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, FOCS 2003
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages618-627
Number of pages10
ISBN (Electronic)0769520405
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003
Event44th Annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, FOCS 2003 - Cambridge, United States
Duration: Oct 11 2003Oct 14 2003

Publication series

NameProceedings - Annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, FOCS
Volume2003-January
ISSN (Print)0272-5428

Conference

Conference44th Annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, FOCS 2003
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityCambridge
Period10/11/0310/14/03

Keywords

  • Antiferromagnetic materials
  • Character generation
  • Chromium
  • Computational modeling
  • Computer science
  • Computer simulation
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Polynomials
  • Sampling methods

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