The 3-rainbow index of a graph

Abstract

Let $G$ be a nontrivial connected graph with an edge-coloring $c:E(G)\to \{1,2,...,q\},$ $q\in \mathbb{N}$, where adjacent edges may be colored the same. A tree $T$ in $G$ is a $rainbowtree$ if no two edges of $T$ receive the same color. For a vertex subset $S\subseteq V(G)$, a tree that connects $S$ in $G$ is called an $S$-tree. The minimum number of colors that are needed in an edge-coloring of $G$ such that there is a rainbow $S$-tree for each $k$-subset $S$ of $V(G)$ is called $k$-rainbow index, denoted by $r{x}_k(G)$. In this paper, we first determine the graphs whose 3-rainbow index equals 2, $m,$ $m-1$, $m-2$, respectively. We also obtain the exact values of $r{x}_3(G)$ for regular complete bipartite and multipartite graphs and wheel graphs. Finally, we give a sharp upper bound for $r{x}_3(G)$ of 2-connected graphs and 2-edge connected graphs, and graphs whose $r{x}_3(G)$ attains the upper bound are characterized.

13 pages