On well quasi-order of graph classes under homomorphic image orderings

Abstract

In this paper we consider the question of well quasi-order for classes defined by a single obstruction within the classes of all graphs, digraphs and tournaments, under the homomorphic image ordering (in both its standard and strong forms). The homomorphic image ordering was introduced by the authors in a previous paper and corresponds to the existence of a surjective homomorphism between two structures. We obtain complete characterizations in all cases except for graphs under the strong ordering, where some open questions remain.