Recurrence of Distributional Limits of Finite Planar Graphs

Abstract

Suppose that $G_j$ is a sequence of finite connected planar graphs, and in each $G_j$ a special vertex, called the root, is chosen randomly-uniformly. We introduce the notion of a distributional limit $G$ of such graphs. Assume that the vertex degrees of the vertices in $G_j$ are bounded, and the bound does not depend on $j$. Then after passing to a subsequence, the limit exists, and is a random rooted graph $G$. We prove that with probability one $G$ is recurrent. The proof involves the Circle Packing Theorem. The motivation for this work comes from the theory of random spherical triangulations.

Name of paper changed from "Unbiased Finite Planar Graphs are Asymptotically Recurrent". A discussion of intrinsic mass transport was added