New concept of connection in signed graphs

Abstract

In a signed graph each edge has a sign, $+1$ or $-1$. We introduce in the present paper a new definition of connection in a signed graph by the existence of both positive and negative chains between vertices. We prove some results and properties of this definition, such as sign components, sign articulation vertices, and sign isthmi, and we compare them to corresponding graph and signed-graphic matroid properties. We apply our results to signed graphs without positive cycles. For signed graphs in which every edge is negative our properties become parity properties.