On uniquely k-list colorable planar graphs, graphs on surfaces, and regular graphs

Abstract

A graph $G$ is called uniquely k-list colorable (U$k$LC) if there exists a list of colors on its vertices, say $L=\{S_v\mid v\in V(G)\}$, each of size $k$, such that there is a unique proper list coloring of $G$ from this list of colors. A graph $G$ is said to have property $M(k)$ if it is not uniquely $k$-list colorable. Mahmoodian and Mahdian characterized all graphs with property $M(2)$. For $k\ge 3$ property $M(k)$ has been studied only for multipartite graphs. Here we find bounds on $M(k)$ for graphs embedded on surfaces, and obtain new results on planar graphs. We begin a general study of bounds on $M(k)$ for regular graphs, as well as for graphs with varying list sizes.