Kleitman–Wang algorithms

The Kleitman–Wang algorithms are two different algorithms in graph theory solving the digraph realization problem, i.e. the question if there exists for a finite list of nonnegative integer pairs a simple directed graph such that its degree sequence is exactly this list.

For a positive answer the list of integer pairs is called digraphic.

Both algorithms construct a special solution if one exists or prove that one cannot find a positive answer.

These constructions are based on recursive algorithms.

Kleitman and Wang [1] gave these algorithms in 1973.

The algorithm is based on the following theorem.

be a finite list of nonnegative integers that is in nonincreasing lexicographical order and let

be a pair of nonnegative integers with

is digraphic if and only if the finite list

has nonnegative integer pairs and is digraphic.

is arbitrarily with the exception of pairs

digraphic then the theorem will be applied at most

times setting in each further step

This process ends when the whole list

In each step of the algorithm one constructs the arcs of a digraph with vertices

, i.e. if it is possible to reduce the list

cannot be reduced to a list

of nonnegative integer pairs in any step of this approach, the theorem proves that the list

The algorithm is based on the following theorem.

be a finite list of nonnegative integers such that

is maximal with respect to the lexicographical order under all pairs

is digraphic if and only if the finite list

has nonnegative integer pairs and is digraphic.

must not be in lexicographical order as in the first version.

is digraphic, then the theorem will be applied at most

times, setting in each further step

This process ends when the whole list

In each step of the algorithm, one constructs the arcs of a digraph with vertices

, i.e. if it is possible to reduce the list

of nonnegative integer pairs in any step of this approach, the theorem proves that the list