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On the Cover Time of Planar Graphs (2000)

Abstract
The cover time of a finite connected graph is the expected number of steps needed for a simple random walk on the graph to visit all the vertices. It is known that the cover time on any n-vertex, connected graph is at least (1+o(1))nlogn and at most (1+o(1))(4/27)n3. This paper proves that for bounded-degree planar graphs the cover time is at least cn(logn)2, and at most 6n2, where c is a positive constant depending only on the maximal degree of the graph. The lower bound is established via use of circle packings.

Publication details
Publisher Institute of Mathematical Statistics
Repository Electronic Communications in Probability (United States)
Keywords 60J10, 52C15.; effective resistance, commute time, hitting time, difference time,circle packing, triangulation
Coverage ; ;