Algorithmic meta-theorems, stating that graph properties expressible in some particular logic can be decided efficiently in graph classes having some specific structural properties, are now standard in sequential graph algorithms. One of the most classic examples is Courcelle's theorem: all properties expressible in Monadic Second-Order logic (MSO) are decidable in linear time in graphs of bounded treewidth.

The question of "what can be computed locally?" lies at the heart of distributed computing in networks. As established in Naor and Stockmeyer's seminal paper (STOC 1993, Edsger W. Dijkstra Prize in Distributed Computing 2025), this question is undecidable, even for graph problems whose solutions can be checked locally. In this paper, we adopt a novel perspective on the question, by asking for which classes Π of problems, and for which classes G of graphs, all problems in Π can be solved efficiently in a distributed manner in all graphs of G. This paper focuses on two natural candidates for such an approach, namely the class of problems expressible in first-order logic (FO), because they possess an intrinsic form of locality thanks to Gaifman's theorem, and the class of graphs with bounded expansion, because they form a large class of graphs encompassing, e.g., planar, bounded-genus, bounded-treewidth, and bounded-degree graphs, as well as graphs excluding a fixed minor or topological minor, sparse Erdös--Rényi graphs (a.a.s.), and several network models such as stochastic block models for suitable parameter ranges.

Abstract We establish that every monadic second-order logic (MSO) formula on graphs with bounded treedepth is decidable in a constant number of rounds within the model. To our knowledge, this marks the first meta-theorem regarding distributed model checking. Various optimization problems on graphs are expressible in MSO. Examples include determining whether a graph G has a clique of size k , whether it admits a coloring with k colors, whether it contains a graph H as a subgraph or minor, or whether terminal vertices in G could be connected via vertex-disjoint paths. Our meta-theorem significantly enhances the work of Bousquet et al. (in: 41st ACM Symposium on Principles of Distributed Computing (PODC), 2022), which was focused on distributed certification of MSO on graphs with bounded treedepth. Moreover, our results can be extended to solving optimization and counting problems expressible in MSO, in graphs of bounded treedepth.

International audience

We consider the Maximum 2-Club problem where one is given as input an undirected graph G = (V,E) and seeks a subset of vertices S of maximum size such that any pair of vertices in S is connected by a path of length at most 2 in the graph induced by S. This problem is a natural relaxation of the famous Maximum Clique problem where any pair of vertices must be connected by an edge. Maximum 2-Club has been well-studied and is known to be NP-complete even on split graphs. It can be solved exactly in O^*(1.62ⁿ) time, where n denotes the number of vertices of the input graph, while being polynomial-time solvable on several graph classes. Parameterized algorithms for structural parameters have also been considered, leading in particular to an algorithm with a double-exponential dependence in the parameter treewidth. Such an algorithm is actually the best one known for the larger parameter vertex cover size up to a constant in the exponent. We provide new results in both directions. We first prove that the double-exponential dependence for parameter vertex cover size is unavoidable under the Exponential Time Hypothesis (ETH). This answers a question left open by Hartung, Komusiewicz, Nichterlein and Suchỳ [Hartung et al., 2015]. Our result also implies that the problem cannot be solved in time sub-exponential in n even for split graphs. We then provide an exact algorithm for the problem restricted to chordal graphs, running in O^*(1.1996ⁿ) time, by reducing Maximum 2-Club on this class to Maximum Independent Set on arbitrary graphs with the same number of vertices. The same reduction shows that we can enumerate all maximum (and inclusion-wise maximal) 2-clubs of a chordal graph in O^*(3^{n/3}) = O^*(1.4423ⁿ) time. We conclude by providing a construction of split graphs with Ω(3^{n/3}/poly(n)) maximum2-clubs, for some polynomial poly showing that the bound for enumeration is essentially tight.

We establish that for every first-order logic (FO) formula ϕ, which captures a vast number of computational problems on graphs, and every graph class G of bounded expansion, there exists a deterministic distributed algorithm that, for any n-node graph G ∈ G with diameter D, determines whether G ⊨ ϕ within O(D+log n) rounds in the standard CONGEST model. Graph classes of bounded expansion encompass many well-known families of sparse graphs, including planar graphs, bounded-genus graphs, bounded-treedepth graphs, bounded-treewidth graphs, bounded-degree graphs, graphs that exclude a fixed graph H as a minor or topological minor, random graphs with constant average degree (a.a.s.), and many network models (e.g., stochastic block models) for some ranges of parameters.

We establish that every monadic second-order logic (MSO) formula on graphs with bounded treedepth is decidable in a constant number of rounds within the CONGEST model. To our knowledge, this marks the first meta-theorem regarding distributed model-checking. Various optimization problems on graphs are expressible in MSO. Examples include determining whether a graph G has a clique of size k, whether it admits a coloring with k colors, whether it contains a graph H as a subgraph or minor, or whether terminal vertices in G could be connected via vertex-disjoint paths. Our meta-theorem significantly enhances the work of Bousquet et al. [PODC 2022], which was focused on distributed certification of MSO on graphs with bounded treedepth. Moreover, our results can be extended to solving optimization and counting problems expressible in MSO, in graphs of bounded treedepth.

We show that, for every k ≥ 2, C2k-freeness can be decided in O(n1--1/k) rounds in the CONGEST model by a randomized Monte-Carlo distributed algorithm with one-sided error probability 1/3. This matches the best round-complexities of previously known algorithms for k ∈ {2, 3, 4, 5} by Drucker et al. [PODC'14] and Censor-Hillel et al. [DISC'20], but improves the complexities of the known algorithms for k > 5 by Eden et al. [DISC'19], which were essentially of the form Õ (n1--2/k2). Our algorithm uses colored BFS-explorations with threshold, but with an original global approach that enables to overcome a recent impossibility result by Fraigniaud et al. [SIROCCO'23] about using colored BFS-exploration with local threshold for detecting cycles.

We establish that every monadic second-order logic (MSO) formula on graphs with bounded treedepth is decidable in a constant number of rounds within the CONGEST model. To our knowledge, this marks the first meta-theorem regarding distributed model-checking. Various optimization problems on graphs are expressible in MSO. Examples include determining whether a graph $G$ has a clique of size $k$, whether it admits a coloring with $k$ colors, whether it contains a graph $H$ as a subgraph or minor, or whether terminal vertices in $G$ could be connected via vertex-disjoint paths. Our meta-theorem significantly enhances the work of Bousquet et al. [PODC 2022], which was focused on distributed certification of MSO on graphs with bounded treedepth. Moreover, our results can be extended to solving optimization and counting problems expressible in MSO, in graphs of bounded treedepth.

Abstract. We show that if the edges or vertices of an undirected graph [Formula: see text] can be covered by [Formula: see text] shortest paths, then the pathwidth of [Formula: see text] is upper-bounded by a single-exponential function of [Formula: see text]. As a corollary, we prove that the problem Isometric Path Cover with Terminals (which, given a graph [Formula: see text] and a set of [Formula: see text] pairs of vertices called terminals, asks whether [Formula: see text] can be covered by [Formula: see text] shortest paths, each joining a pair of terminals) is FPT with respect to the number of terminals. The same holds for the similar problem Strong Geodetic Set with Terminals (which, given a graph [Formula: see text] and a set of [Formula: see text] terminals, asks whether there exist [Formula: see text] shortest paths covering [Formula: see text], each joining a distinct pair of terminals). Moreover, this implies that the related problems Isometric Path Cover and Strong Geodetic Set (defined similarly but where the set of terminals is not part of the input) are in XP with respect to parameter [Formula: see text].

A proof-labeling scheme (PLS) for a boolean predicate Π on labeled graphs is a mechanism used for certifying the legality with respect to Π of global network states in a distributed manner. In a PLS, a certificate is assigned to each processing node of the network, and the nodes are in charge of checking that the collection of certificates forms a global proof that the system is in a correct state, by exchanging the certificates once, between neighbors only. The main measure of complexity is the size of the certificates. Many PLSs have been designed for certifying specific predicates, including cycle-freeness, minimum-weight spanning tree, planarity, etc. In 2021, a breakthrough has been obtained, as a "meta-theorem" stating that a large set of properties have compact PLSs in a large class of networks. Namely, for every MSO₂ property Π on labeled graphs, there exists a PLS for Π with O(log n)-bit certificates for all graphs of bounded tree-depth. This result has been extended to the larger class of graphs with bounded tree-width, using certificates on O(log² n) bits. We extend this result even further, to the larger class of graphs with bounded clique-width, which, as opposed to the other two aforementioned classes, includes dense graphs. We show that, for every MSO₁ property Π on labeled graphs, there exists a PLS for Π with O(log² n)-bit certificates for all graphs of bounded clique-width. As a consequence, certifying families of graphs such as distance-hereditary graphs and (induced) P₄-free graphs (a.k.a., cographs) can be done using a PLS with O(log² n)-bit certificates, merely because each of these two classes can be specified in MSO₁. In fact, we show that certifying P₄-free graphs can be done with certificates on O(log n) bits only. This is in contrast to the class of C₄-free graphs (which does not have bounded clique-width) which requires Ω̃(√n)-bit certificates.

We consider the Trivially Perfect Editing problem, where one is given an undirected graph $$G = (V,E)$$ and a parameter $$k \in {\mathbb {N}}$$ and seeks to edit (add or delete) at most k edges from G to obtain a trivially perfect graph. The related Trivially Perfect Completion and Trivially Perfect Deletion problems are obtained by only allowing edge additions or edge deletions, respectively. Trivially perfect graphs are both chordal and cographs, and have applications related to the tree-depth width parameter and to social network analysis. All variants of the problem are known to be NP-complete (Burzyn et al., in Discret Appl Math 154(13):1824–1844, 2006; Nastos and Gao, in Soc Netw 35(3):439–450, 2013) and to admit so-called polynomial kernels (Drange and Pilipczuk, in Algorithmica 80(12):3481–3524, 2018; Guo, in: Tokuyama, (ed) Algorithms and Computation, 18th International Symposium, ISAAC. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Springer, Sendai, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77120-3_79 ; Bathie et al., in Algorithmica 1–27, 2022). More precisely, Drange and Pilipczuk (Algorithmica 80(12):3481–3524, 2018) provided $$O(k^7)$$ vertex-kernels for these problems and left open the existence of cubic vertex-kernels. In this work, we answer positively to this question for all three variants of the problem. Notice that a quadratic vertex-kernel was recently obtained for Trivially Perfect Completion by Bathie et al. (Algorithmica 1–27, 2022).

We show that if the edges or vertices of an undirected graph G can be covered by k shortest paths, then the pathwidth of G is upper-bounded by a function of k. As a corollary, we prove that the problem Isometric Path Cover with Terminals (which, given a graph G and a set of k pairs of vertices called terminals, asks whether G can be covered by k shortest paths, each joining a pair of terminals) is FPT with respect to the number of terminals. The same holds for the similar problem Strong Geodetic Set with Terminals (which, given a graph G and a set of k terminals, asks whether there exist binom(k,2) shortest paths, each joining a distinct pair of terminals such that these paths cover G). Moreover, this implies that the related problems Isometric Path Cover and Strong Geodetic Set (defined similarly but where the set of terminals is not part of the input) are in XP with respect to parameter k.

During the last two decades, a small set of distributed computing models for networks have emerged, among which LOCAL, CONGEST, and Broadcast Congested Clique (BCC) play a prominent role. We consider hybrid models resulting from combining these three models. That is, we analyze the computing power of models allowing to, say, perform a constant number of rounds of CONGEST, then a constant number of rounds of LOCAL, then a constant number of rounds of BCC, possibly repeating this figure a constant number of times. We specifically focus on 2-round models, and we establish the complete picture of the relative powers of these models. That is, for every pair of such models, we determine whether one is (strictly) stronger than the other, or whether the two models are incomparable. The separation results are obtained by approaching communication complexity through an original angle, which may be of an independent interest. The two players are not bounded to compute the value of a binary function, but the combined outputs of the two players are constrained by this value. In particular, we introduce the XOR-Index problem, in which Alice is given a binary vector x ∈ {0,1}ⁿ together with an index i ∈ [n], Bob is given a binary vector y ∈ {0,1}ⁿ together with an index j ∈ [n], and, after a single round of 2-way communication, Alice must output a boolean out_A, and Bob must output a boolean out_B, such that out_A ∧ out_B = x_j⊕ y_i. We show that the communication complexity of XOR-Index is Ω(n) bits.

During the last two decades, a small set of distributed computing models for networks have emerged, among which LOCAL, CONGEST, and Broadcast Congested Clique (BCC) play a prominent role. We consider hybrid models resulting from combining these three models. That is, we analyze the computing power of models allowing to, say, perform a constant number of rounds of CONGEST, then a constant number of rounds of LOCAL, then a constant number of rounds of BCC, possibly repeating this figure a constant number of times. We specifically focus on 2-round models, and we establish the complete picture of the relative powers of these models. That is, for every pair of such models, we determine whether one is (strictly) stronger than the other, or whether the two models are incomparable.

In a (parameterized) graph edge modification problem, we are given a graph $G$, an integer $k$ and a (usually well-structured) class of graphs $\mathcal{G}$, and ask whether it is possible to transform $G$ into a graph $G' \in \mathcal{G}$ by adding and/or removing at most $k$ edges. Parameterized graph edge modification problems received considerable attention in the last decades. In this paper, we focus on finding small kernels for edge modification problems. One of the most studied problems is the Cluster Editing problem, in which the goal is to partition the vertex set into a disjoint union of cliques. Even if this problem admits a $2k$ kernel [Cao, 2012], this kernel does not reduce the size of most instances. Therefore, we explore the question of whether linear kernels are a theoretical limit in edge modification problems, in particular when the target graphs are very structured (such as a partition into cliques for instance). We prove, as far as we know, the first sublinear kernel for an edge modification problem. Namely, we show that Clique + Independent Set Deletion, which is a restriction of Cluster Deletion, admits a kernel of size $O(k/\log k)$. We also obtain small kernels for several other edge modification problems. We prove that Split Addition (and the equivalent Split Deletion) admits a linear kernel, improving the existing quadratic kernel of Ghosh et al. [Ghosh et al., 2015]. We complement this result by proving that Trivially Perfect Addition admits a quadratic kernel (improving the cubic kernel of Guo [Guo, 2007]), and finally prove that its triangle-free version (Starforest Deletion) admits a linear kernel, which is optimal under ETH.

Naor M., Parter M., Yogev E.: (The power of distributed verifiers in interactive proofs. In: 31st ACM-SIAM symposium on discrete algorithms (SODA), pp 1096–115, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1137/1.9781611975994.67 ) have recently demonstrated the existence of a distributed interactive proof for planarity (i.e., for certifying that a network is planar), using a sophisticated generic technique for constructing distributed IP protocols based on sequential IP protocols. The interactive proof for planarity is based on a distributed certification of the correct execution of any given sequential linear-time algorithm for planarity testing. It involves three interactions between the prover and the randomized distributed verifier (i.e., it is a dMAM protocol), and uses small certificates, on $$O(\log n)$$ bits in n-node networks. We show that a single interaction with the prover suffices, and randomization is unecessary, by providing an explicit description of a proof-labeling scheme for planarity, still using certificates on just $$O(\log n)$$ bits. We also show that there are no proof-labeling schemes—in fact, even no locally checkable proofs—for planarity using certificates on $$o(\log n)$$ bits.

Naor, Parter, and Yogev (SODA 2020) have recently demonstrated the existence of a distributed interactive proof for planarity (i.e., for certifying that a network is planar), using a sophisticated generic technique for constructing distributed IP protocols based on sequential IP protocols. The interactive proof for planarity is based on a distributed certification of the correct execution of any given sequential linear-time algorithm for planarity testing. It involves three interactions between the prover and the randomized distributed verifier (i.e., it is a dMAM protocol), and uses small certificates, on O(log n) bits in n-node networks. We show that a single interaction from the prover suffices, and randomization is unecessary, by providing an explicit description of a proof-labeling scheme for planarity, still using certificates on just O(log n) bits. We also show that there are no proof-labeling schemes --- in fact, even no locally checkable proofs --- for planarity using certificates on o(log n) bits.

The broadcast congested clique model (BClique) is a message-passing model of distributed computation where $n$ nodes communicate with each other in synchronous rounds. First, in this paper we prove that there is a one-round, deterministic algorithm that reconstructs the input graph $G$ if the graph is $d$-degenerate, and rejects otherwise, using bandwidth $b=\mathcal{O}(d \cdot \log n)$. Then, we introduce a new parameter to the model. We study the situation where the nodes, initially, instead of knowing their immediate neighbors, know their neighborhood up to a fixed radius $r$. In this new framework, denoted ${{\sc BClique}}[r]$, we study the problem of detecting, in $G$, an induced cycle of length at most $k$ (${\sc Cycle}_{\leq k}$) and the problem of detecting an induced cycle of length at least $k+1$ (${\sc Cycle}_{>k}$). We give upper and lower bounds. We show that if each node is allowed to see up to distance $r={\lfloor k/2 \rfloor + 1}$, then a polylogarithmic bandwidth is sufficient for solving ${\sc Cycle}_{>k}$ with only two rounds. Nevertheless, if nodes were allowed to see up to distance $r=\lfloor k/3 \rfloor$, then any one-round algorithm that solves ${\sc Cycle}_{>k}$ needs the bandwidth $b$ to be at least $\Omega(n/\log n)$. We also show the existence of a one-round, deterministic ${{\sc BClique}}$ algorithm that solves ${\sc Cycle}_{\leq k}$ with bandwitdh $b=\mathcal{O}(n^{1/\lfloor{k/2}\rfloor} \cdot \log n)$. On the negative side, we prove that, if $\epsilon \leq 1/3$ and $0 < r \leq k/4 $, then any $\epsilon$-error, $R$-round, $b$-bandwidth algorithm in the ${{\sc BClique}}[r]$ model that solves problem ${\sc Cycle}_{\leq k}$ satisfies $R \cdot b = \Omega(n^{1/\lfloor{k/2}\rfloor})$.

International audience

In this paper we present distributed testing algorithms of graph properties in the CONGEST-model [Censor-Hillel et al. 2016]. We present one-sided error testing algorithms in the general graph model. We first describe a general procedure for converting $ε$-testers with a number of rounds $f(D)$, where $D$ denotes the diameter of the graph, to $O((\log n)/ε)+f((\log n)/ε)$ rounds, where $n$ is the number of processors of the network. We then apply this procedure to obtain an optimal tester, in terms of $n$, for testing bipartiteness, whose round complexity is $O(ε^{-1}\log n)$, which improves over the $poly(ε^{-1} \log n)$-round algorithm by Censor-Hillel et al. (DISC 2016). Moreover, for cycle-freeness, we obtain a \emph{corrector} of the graph that locally corrects the graph so that the corrected graph is acyclic. Note that, unlike a tester, a corrector needs to mend the graph in many places in the case that the graph is far from having the property. In the second part of the paper we design algorithms for testing whether the network is $H$-free for any connected $H$ of size up to four with round complexity of $O(ε^{-1})$. This improves over the $O(ε^{-2})$-round algorithms for testing triangle freeness by Censor-Hillel et al. (DISC 2016) and for testing excluded graphs of size $4$ by Fraigniaud et al. (DISC 2016). In the last part we generalize the global tester by Iwama and Yoshida (ITCS 2014) of testing $k$-path freeness to testing the exclusion of any tree of order $k$. We then show how to simulate this algorithm in the CONGEST-model in $O(k^{k^2+1}\cdotε^{-k})$ rounds.

We present deterministic constant-round protocols for the graph connectivity problem in the model where each of the n nodes of a graph receives a row of the adjacency matrix, and broadcasts a single sublinear size message to all other nodes. Communication rounds are synchronous. This model is sometimes called the broadcast congested clique. Specifically, we exhibit a deterministic protocol that computes the connected components of the input graph in [1/ε] rounds, each player communicating O(nε ⋅ log n) bits per round, with 0 < ε ≤ 1.

We obtain an algorithmic metatheorem for the following optimization problem. Let $\varphi$ be a counting monadic second order logic (CMSO) formula and $t\geq 0$ be an integer. For a given graph $G=(V,E)$, the task is to maximize $|X|$ subject to the following: there is a set $ F\subseteq V$ such that $X\subseteq F $, the subgraph $G[F]$ induced by $F$ is of treewidth at most $t$, and the structure $(G[F],X)$ models $\varphi$, i.e., $(G[F],X)\models\varphi$. We give an algorithm solving this optimization problem on any $n$-vertex graph $G$ in time ${\cal O}(|\Pi_G| \cdot n^{t+4}\cdot f(t,\varphi))$, where $\Pi_G$ is the set of all potential maximal cliques in $G$ and $f$ is a function of $t$ and $\varphi$ only. Pipelined with the known bounds on the number of potential maximal cliques in different graph classes, there are a plethora of algorithmic consequences extending and subsuming many known results on polynomial-time algorithms for graph classes. We also show that all potential maximal cliques of $G$ can be enumerated in time ${\cal O}(1.7347^n)$. This implies the existence of an exact exponential algorithm of running time ${\cal O}(1.7347^n)$ for many NP-hard problems related to finding maximum induced subgraphs with different properties.

We obtain an algorithmic meta-theorem for the following optimization problem. Let φ be a Counting Monadic Second Order Logic (CMSO) formula and t ≥ 0 be an integer. For a given graph G = (V, E), the task is to maximize |X| subject to the following: there is a set F ⊆ V such that X ⊆ F, the subgraph G[F] induced by F is of treewidth at most t, and structure (G[F], X) models φ, i.e. (G[F], X) ⊨ φ. Special cases of this optimization problem are the following generic examples. Each of these special cases contains various problems as a special subcase: Maximum Induced Subgraph with ≤ ℓ copies of ℱm-cycles, where for fixed nonnegative integers m and ℓ, the task is to find a maximum induced subgraph of a given graph with at most ℓ vertex-disjoint cycles of length 0 (mod m). For example, this encompasses the problems of finding a maximum induced forest or a maximum subgraph without even cycles. Minimum ℱ-Deletion, where for a fixed finite set of graphs ℱ containing a planar graph, the task is to find a maximum induced subgraph of a given graph containing no graph from ℱ as a minor. Examples of Minimum ℱ-Deletion are the problems of finding a minimum vertex cover or a minimum number of vertices required to delete from the graph to obtain an outerplanar graph. Independent ℋ-packing, where for a fixed finite set of connected graphs ℋ, the task is to find an induced subgraph F of a given graph with the maximum number of connected components, such that each connected component of F is isomorphic to some graph from ℋ. For example, the problem of finding a maximum induced matching or packing into nonadjacent triangles, are the special cases of this problem. We give an algorithm solving the optimization problem on an n-vertex graph G in time (|ΠG| · nt+4 · f(t, φ)), where ΠG is the set of all potential maximal cliques in G and f is a function of t and φ only. We also show how similar running time can be obtained for the weighted version of the problem. Pipelined with known bounds on the number of potential maximal cliques, we derive a plethora of algorithmic consequences extending and subsuming many known results on algorithms for special graph classes and exact exponential algorithms.

In this paper we ask which properties of a distributed network can be computed from a few amount of local information provided by its nodes. The distributed model we consider is a restriction of the classical CONGEST (distributed) model and it is close to the simultaneous messages (communication complexity) model defined by Babai, Kimmel and Lokam. More precisely, each of these n nodes-which only knows its own ID and the IDs of its neighbors- is allowed to send a message of O(log n) bits to some central entity, called the referee. Is it possible for the referee to decide some basic structural properties of the network topology G? We show that simple questions like, "does G contain a square?", "does G contain a triangle?" or "Is the diameter of G at most 3?" cannot be solved in general. On the other hand, the referee can decode the messages in order to have full knowledge of G when G belongs to many graph classes such as planar graphs, bounded tree width graphs and, more generally, bounded degeneracy graphs. We leave open questions related to the connectivity of arbitrary graphs.

We investigate the natural situation of the dissemination of information on various graph classes starting with a random set of informed vertices called active. Initially active vertices are chosen independently with probability p, and at any stage in the process, a vertex becomes active if the majority of its neighbours are active, and thereafter never changes its state. This process is a particular case of bootstrap percolation. We show that in any cubic graph, with high probability, the information will not spread to all vertices in the graph if $p<\frac{1}{2}$ . We give families of graphs in which information spreads to all vertices with high probability for relatively small values of p.

The minimum dominating set problem remains NP-hard when restricted to any of the following graph classes: c -dense graphs, chordal graphs, 4-chordal graphs, weakly chordal graphs, and circle graphs. Developing and using a general approach, for each of these graph classes we present an exponential time algorithm solving the minimum dominating set problem faster than the best known algorithm for general graphs. Our algorithms have the following running time: O (1.4124 n ) for chordal graphs, O (1.4776 n ) for weakly chordal graphs, O (1.4845 n ) for 4-chordal graphs, O (1.4887 n ) for circle graphs, and O (1.2273 (1+√1−2 c ) n ) for c -dense graphs.

We show that the treewidth and the minimum fill-in of an n-vertex graph can be computed in time $\mathcal{O}(1.8899^n)$. Our results are based on combinatorial proofs that an n-vertex graph has $\mathcal{O}(1.7087^n)$ minimal separators and $\mathcal{O}(1.8135^n)$ potential maximal cliques. We also show that for the class of asteroidal triple–free graphs the running time of our algorithms can be reduced to $\mathcal{O}(1.4142^n)$.

We use the notion of potential maximal clique to characterize the maximal cliques appearing in minimal triangulations of a graph. We show that if these objects can be listed in polynomial time for a class of graphs, the treewidth and the minimum fill-in are polynomially tractable for these graphs. We prove that for all classes of graphs for which polynomial algorithms computing the treewidth and the minimum fill-in exist, we can list their potential maximal cliques in polynomial time. Our approach unifies these algorithms. Finally we show how to compute in polynomial time the potential maximal cliques of weakly triangulated graphs for which the treewidth and the minimum fill-in problems were open.