On the k-restricted edge-connectivity of matched sum graphs

Abstract

A matched sum graph $G_1$M$G_2$ of two graphs $G_1$ and $G_2$ of the same order n is obtained by adding to the union (or sum) of $G_1$ and $G_2$ a set M of n independent edges which join vertices in V ($G_1$) to vertices in V ($G_2$). When $G_1$ and $G_2$ are isomorphic, $G_1$M$G_2$ is just a permutation graph. In this work we derive bounds for the k-restricted edge connectivity λ(k) of matched sum graphs $G_1$M$G_2$ for 2 ≤ k ≤ 5, and present some sufficient conditions for the optimality of λ(k)($G_1$M$G_2$).