On the order of regular graphs with fixed second largest eigenvalue

Abstract

Let $v(k, \lambda)$ be the maximum number of vertices of a connected $k$-regular graph with second largest eigenvalue at most $\lambda$. The Alon-Boppana Theorem implies that $v(k, \lambda)$ is finite when $k > \frac{\lambda^2 + 4}{4}$. In this paper, we show that for fixed $\lambda \geq1$, there exists a constant $C(\lambda)$ such that $2k+2 \leq v(k, \lambda) \leq 2k + C(\lambda)$ when $k > \frac{\lambda^2 + 4}{4}$.