The Generalized Euler Characteristics of the Graphs Split at Vertices

Entropy (Basel). 2022 Mar 9;24(3):387. doi: 10.3390/e24030387.

Abstract

We show that there is a relationship between the generalized Euler characteristic Eo(|VDo|) of the original graph that was split at vertices into two disconnected subgraphs i=1,2 and their generalized Euler characteristics Ei(|VDi|). Here, |VDo| and |VDi| denote the numbers of vertices with the Dirichlet boundary conditions in the graphs. The theoretical results are experimentally verified using microwave networks that simulate quantum graphs. We demonstrate that the evaluation of the generalized Euler characteristics Eo(|VDo|) and Ei(|VDi|) allow us to determine the number of vertices where the two subgraphs were initially connected.

Keywords: Euler characteristic; Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions; microwave networks; quantum graphs.