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Documents authored by Dorfer, Joseph

Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.SoCG.2026.16
Flip Distance of Non-Crossing Spanning Trees: NP-Hardness and Improved Bounds

Authors: Håvard Bakke Bjerkevik, Joseph Dorfer, Linda Kleist, Torsten Ueckerdt, and Birgit Vogtenhuber

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 367, 42nd International Symposium on Computational Geometry (SoCG 2026)

Abstract
We consider the problem of reconfiguring non-crossing spanning trees on point sets. For a set P of n points in general position in the plane, the flip graph ℱ(P) has a vertex for each non-crossing spanning tree on P and an edge between any two spanning trees that can be transformed into each other by the exchange of a single edge (coined a flip). This flip graph has been intensively studied, lately with an emphasis on determining its diameter diam(ℱ(P)) for sets P of n points in convex position. For this case, the current best bounds are 14/9⋅n - O(1) ≤ diam(ℱ(P)) < 15/9⋅n - 3, obtained in a recent breakthrough work [Bjerkevik, Kleist, Ueckerdt, and Vogtenhuber; SODA 2025]. The crucial tool for both the upper and lower bound are so-called conflict graphs, which the authors stated might be the key ingredient for determining the diameter (up to lower-order terms). In this paper, we pick up the concept of conflict graphs from the above-mentioned work and show that this tool is even more versatile than previously hoped. As our first main result, we use conflict graphs to show that computing the flip distance between two non-crossing spanning trees is NP-hard, even for point sets in convex position. Interestingly, the result still holds for more constrained flip operations, concretely, compatible flips (where the removed and the added edge do not cross) and rotations (where the removed and the added edge share an endpoint). Additionally, we present new insights on the diameter of the flip graph, by this directly extending the line of research from [BKUV SODA25]. Their lower bound is based on a constant-size pair of trees, one of which is of a type we refer to as stacked. We show that if one of the trees is stacked, then the lower bound is indeed optimal up to a constant term, that is, there exists a flip sequence of length at most 14/9⋅(n-1) to any other tree. Lastly, we improve the lower bound on the diameter of the flip graph ℱ(P) for n points in convex position to 11/7⋅n-o(n).
Cite as

Håvard Bakke Bjerkevik, Joseph Dorfer, Linda Kleist, Torsten Ueckerdt, and Birgit Vogtenhuber. Flip Distance of Non-Crossing Spanning Trees: NP-Hardness and Improved Bounds. In 42nd International Symposium on Computational Geometry (SoCG 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 367, pp. 16:1-16:18, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

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@InProceedings{bjerkevik_et_al:LIPIcs.SoCG.2026.16,
  author =	{Bjerkevik, H\r{a}vard Bakke and Dorfer, Joseph and Kleist, Linda and Ueckerdt, Torsten and Vogtenhuber, Birgit},
  title =	{{Flip Distance of Non-Crossing Spanning Trees: NP-Hardness and Improved Bounds}},
  booktitle =	{42nd International Symposium on Computational Geometry (SoCG 2026)},
  pages =	{16:1--16:18},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-418-5},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{367},
  editor =	{Ahn, Hee-Kap and Hoffmann, Michael and Nayyeri, Amir},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.SoCG.2026.16},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-258225},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.SoCG.2026.16},
  annote =	{Keywords: Non-crossing, spanning tree, plane graph, flip graph, reconfiguration, diameter, complexity, NP-hard, edge exchange, compatible flip, rotation, happy edge property}
}
Document
Media Exposition
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.SoCG.2026.96
Sliding Cubes in Parallel (Media Exposition)

Authors: Hugo A. Akitaya, Joseph Dorfer, Peter Kramer, Christian Rieck, Soham Samanta, Gabriel Shahrouzi, and Frederick Stock

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 367, 42nd International Symposium on Computational Geometry (SoCG 2026)

Abstract
The sliding cubes model serves as a well-established theoretical framework for formalizing and analyzing reconfiguration algorithms in modular robotic systems built from face-connected cubic modules. We extend the parallel sliding cubes model from two to three dimensions, presenting new algorithms, surprising complexity results, and a generalization of the best known bounds from two to three dimensions. A companion video visualizes and explains our results.
Cite as

Hugo A. Akitaya, Joseph Dorfer, Peter Kramer, Christian Rieck, Soham Samanta, Gabriel Shahrouzi, and Frederick Stock. Sliding Cubes in Parallel (Media Exposition). In 42nd International Symposium on Computational Geometry (SoCG 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 367, pp. 96:1-96:5, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

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@InProceedings{a.akitaya_et_al:LIPIcs.SoCG.2026.96,
  author =	{A. Akitaya, Hugo and Dorfer, Joseph and Kramer, Peter and Rieck, Christian and Samanta, Soham and Shahrouzi, Gabriel and Stock, Frederick},
  title =	{{Sliding Cubes in Parallel}},
  booktitle =	{42nd International Symposium on Computational Geometry (SoCG 2026)},
  pages =	{96:1--96:5},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-418-5},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{367},
  editor =	{Ahn, Hee-Kap and Hoffmann, Michael and Nayyeri, Amir},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.SoCG.2026.96},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-259020},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.SoCG.2026.96},
  annote =	{Keywords: Sliding squares, parallel motion, reconfigurability, three dimensions, constant makespan, log-APX hardness, NP-hardness, worst-case optimality}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2026.33
Higher Hardness Results for the Reconfiguration of Odd Matchings

Authors: Joseph Dorfer

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 364, 43rd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2026)

Abstract
We study the reconfiguration of odd matchings of combinatorial graphs. Odd matchings are matchings that cover all but one vertex of a graph. A reconfiguration step, or flip, is an operation that matches the isolated vertex and, consequently, isolates another vertex. The flip graph of odd matchings is a graph that has all odd matchings of a graph as vertices and an edge between two vertices if their corresponding matchings can be transformed into one another via a single flip. We show that computing the diameter of the flip graph of odd matchings is Π₂^p-hard. This complements a recent result by Wulf [FOCS25] that it is Π₂^p-hard to compute the diameter of the flip graph of perfect matchings where a flip swaps matching edges along a single cycle of unbounded size. Further, we show that computing the radius of the flip graph of odd matchings is Σ₃^p-hard. The respective decision problems for the diameter and the radius are also complete in the respective level of the polynomial hierarchy. This shows that computing the radius of the flip graph of odd matchings is provably harder than computing its diameter, unless the polynomial hierarchy collapses. Finally, we reduce set cover to the problem of finding shortest flip sequences. As a consequence, we show APX-hardness and that the problem cannot be approximated by a sublogarithmic factor. By doing so, we answer a question asked by Aichholzer, Brenner, Dorfer, Hoang, Perz, Rieck, and Verciani [GD25].
Cite as

Joseph Dorfer. Higher Hardness Results for the Reconfiguration of Odd Matchings. In 43rd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2026). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 364, pp. 33:1-33:16, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

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@InProceedings{dorfer:LIPIcs.STACS.2026.33,
  author =	{Dorfer, Joseph},
  title =	{{Higher Hardness Results for the Reconfiguration of Odd Matchings}},
  booktitle =	{43rd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS 2026)},
  pages =	{33:1--33:16},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-412-3},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{364},
  editor =	{Mahajan, Meena and Manea, Florin and McIver, Annabelle and Thắng, Nguy\~{ê}n Kim},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2026.33},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-255222},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.STACS.2026.33},
  annote =	{Keywords: Graph Reconfiguration Problems, Flip Graphs, Polynomial Hierarchy, APX-hardness}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.GD.2025.5
Constrained Flips in Plane Spanning Trees

Authors: Oswin Aichholzer, Joseph Dorfer, and Birgit Vogtenhuber

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 357, 33rd International Symposium on Graph Drawing and Network Visualization (GD 2025)

Abstract
A flip in a plane spanning tree T is the operation of removing one edge from T and adding another edge such that the resulting structure is again a plane spanning tree. For trees on a set of points in convex position we study two classic types of constrained flips: (1) Compatible flips are flips in which the removed and inserted edge do not cross each other. We relevantly improve the previous upper bound of 2n-O(√n) on the diameter of the compatible flip graph to (5n/3)-O(1), by this matching the upper bound for unrestricted flips by Bjerkevik, Kleist, Ueckerdt, and Vogtenhuber [SODA 2025] up to an additive constant of 1. We further show that no shortest compatible flip sequence removes an edge that is already in its target position. Using this so-called happy edge property, we derive a fixed-parameter tractable algorithm to compute the shortest compatible flip sequence between two given trees. (2) Rotations are flips in which the removed and inserted edge share a common vertex. Besides showing that the happy edge property does not hold for rotations, we improve the previous upper bound of 2n-O(1) for the diameter of the rotation graph to (7n/4)-O(1).
Cite as

Oswin Aichholzer, Joseph Dorfer, and Birgit Vogtenhuber. Constrained Flips in Plane Spanning Trees. In 33rd International Symposium on Graph Drawing and Network Visualization (GD 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 357, pp. 5:1-5:18, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{aichholzer_et_al:LIPIcs.GD.2025.5,
  author =	{Aichholzer, Oswin and Dorfer, Joseph and Vogtenhuber, Birgit},
  title =	{{Constrained Flips in Plane Spanning Trees}},
  booktitle =	{33rd International Symposium on Graph Drawing and Network Visualization (GD 2025)},
  pages =	{5:1--5:18},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-403-1},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{357},
  editor =	{Dujmovi\'{c}, Vida and Montecchiani, Fabrizio},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.GD.2025.5},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-249913},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.GD.2025.5},
  annote =	{Keywords: Non-crossing spanning trees, Flip Graphs, Diameter, Complexity, Happy edges}
}
Document
DOI: 10.4230/LIPIcs.GD.2025.12
Flipping Odd Matchings in Geometric and Combinatorial Settings

Authors: Oswin Aichholzer, Sofia Brenner, Joseph Dorfer, Hung P. Hoang, Daniel Perz, Christian Rieck, and Francesco Verciani

Published in: LIPIcs, Volume 357, 33rd International Symposium on Graph Drawing and Network Visualization (GD 2025)

Abstract
We study the problem of reconfiguring odd matchings, that is, matchings that cover all but a single vertex. Our reconfiguration operation is a so-called flip where the unmatched vertex of the first matching gets matched, while consequently another vertex becomes unmatched. We consider two distinct settings: the geometric setting, in which the vertices are points embedded in the plane and all occurring odd matchings are crossing-free, and a combinatorial setting, in which we consider odd matchings in general graphs. For the latter setting, we provide a complete polynomial time checkable characterization of graphs in which any two odd matchings can be reconfigured into each another. This complements the previously known result that the flip graph is always connected in the geometric setting [Oswin Aichholzer et al., 2025]. In the combinatorial setting, we prove that the diameter of the flip graph, if connected, is linear in the number of vertices. Furthermore, we establish that deciding whether there exists a flip sequence of length k transforming one given matching into another is NP-complete in both the combinatorial and the geometric settings. To prove the latter, we introduce a framework that allows us to transform partial order types into general position with only polynomial overhead. Finally, we demonstrate that when parameterized by the flip distance k, the problem is fixed-parameter tractable (FPT) in the geometric setting when restricted to convex point sets.
Cite as

Oswin Aichholzer, Sofia Brenner, Joseph Dorfer, Hung P. Hoang, Daniel Perz, Christian Rieck, and Francesco Verciani. Flipping Odd Matchings in Geometric and Combinatorial Settings. In 33rd International Symposium on Graph Drawing and Network Visualization (GD 2025). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 357, pp. 12:1-12:18, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025)

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@InProceedings{aichholzer_et_al:LIPIcs.GD.2025.12,
  author =	{Aichholzer, Oswin and Brenner, Sofia and Dorfer, Joseph and Hoang, Hung P. and Perz, Daniel and Rieck, Christian and Verciani, Francesco},
  title =	{{Flipping Odd Matchings in Geometric and Combinatorial Settings}},
  booktitle =	{33rd International Symposium on Graph Drawing and Network Visualization (GD 2025)},
  pages =	{12:1--12:18},
  series =	{Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-403-1},
  ISSN =	{1868-8969},
  year =	{2025},
  volume =	{357},
  editor =	{Dujmovi\'{c}, Vida and Montecchiani, Fabrizio},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.GD.2025.12},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-249983},
  doi =		{10.4230/LIPIcs.GD.2025.12},
  annote =	{Keywords: Odd matchings, reconfiguration, flip graph, geometric, combinatorial, connectivity, NP-hardness, FPT}
}
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