Induced subgraphs and tree decompositions XVIII. Obstructions to bounded pathwidth

The pathwidth of a graph $G$ is the smallest $w\\in \\mathbb{N}$ such that $G$ can be constructed from a sequence of graphs, each on at most $w+1$ vertices, by gluing them together in a linear fashion. We provide a full classification of the unavoidable induced subgraphs of graphs with large pathwidth.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advances in Combinatorics
Published
2026-09-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.19086/aic.2026.8
Primary Topic
Advanced Graph Theory Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Induced subgraphs and tree decompositions XVIII. Obstructions to bounded pathwidth

Sophie Spirkl, Maria Chudnovsky, Sepehr Hajebi
Advances in Combinatorics
Advanced Graph Theory Research
article

Induced subgraphs and tree decompositions XVIII. Obstructions to bounded pathwidth

Sophie Spirkl, Maria Chudnovsky, Sepehr Hajebi
article en

Abstract

The pathwidth of a graph $G$ is the smallest $w\in \mathbb{N}$ such that $G$ can be constructed from a sequence of graphs, each on at most $w+1$ vertices, by gluing them together in a linear fashion. We provide a full classification of the unavoidable induced subgraphs of graphs with large pathwidth.

Advances in Combinatorics
National Science Foundation, Government of Ontario, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Openalex Percentile: Top 98%
Advanced Graph Theory Research
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