Generalizations of the Matching Polynomial to the Multivariate Independence Polynomial

Abstract

We generalize two main theorems of matching polynomials of undirected simple graphs, namely, real-rootedness and the Heilmann-Lieb root bound. Viewing the matching polynomial of a graph $G$ as the independence polynomial of the line graph of $G$, we determine conditions for the extension of these theorems to the independence polynomial of any graph. In particular, we show that a stability-like property of the multivariate independence polynomial characterizes claw-freeness. Finally, we give and extend multivariate versions of Godsil's theorems on the divisibility of matching polynomials of trees related to $G$.