26th Estonian Winter School in Computer Science (EWSCS)
XXVI Eesti Arvutiteaduse Talvekool

Viinistu, Estonia, March 4 - 7, 2024

Szabolcs Horvát

Assistant Professor at Reykjavik University, Iceland

Random graphs and methods for constructing them

 

Abstract

In this lecture series we will look at the problem of generating random graphs with various prescribed properties, and investigating them. How do we generate a random tree, chosen uniformly from the set of all trees on n vertices? What is an efficient algorithm for creating a random graph with a given number of edges? What is the probability that it will be connected? What about generating random connected graphs with prescribed degrees? What if we only specify the average degree of each vertex (a so-called "soft" constraint)?
So-called random graph models—statistical distributions over the set of graphs—find many practical applications. They are one of the fundamental tools for studying real-world network data, and are commonly used as statistical null models. In order to make effective use of them we need unbiased and efficient sampling algorithms for graph. In these lectures we will learn about different kinds of random graph models (including maximum entropy models), and will look at techniques for constructing sampling algorithms for them.

Course materials



Last changed March 7, 2024 13:02 EET (GMT +02:00) by local organisers