Sparse Kneser graphs are Hamiltonian
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For integers k≥ 1 and n≥ 2k+1, the Kneser graph K(n,k) is the graph whose vertices are the k-element subsets of {1,...,n} and whose edges connect pairs of subsets that are disjoint. The Kneser graphs of the form K(2k+1,k) are also known as the odd graphs. We settle an old problem due to Meredith, Lloyd, and Biggs from the 1970s, proving that for every k≥ 3, the odd graph K(2k+1,k) has a Hamilton cycle. This and a known conditional result due to Johnson imply that all Kneser graphs of the form K(2k+2^a,k) with k≥ 3 and a≥ 0 have a Hamilton cycle. We also prove that K(2k+1,k) has at least 2^2^k-6 distinct Hamilton cycles for k≥ 6. Our proofs are based on a reduction of the Hamiltonicity problem in the odd graph to the problem of finding a spanning tree in a suitably defined hypergraph on Dyck words.
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