Making multigraphs simple by a sequence of double edge swaps

Abstract

We show that any loopy multigraph with a graphical degree sequence can be transformed into a simple graph by a finite sequence of double edge swaps with each swap involving at least one loop or multiple edge. Our result answers a question of Janson motivated by random graph theory, and it adds to the rich literature on reachability of double edge swaps with applications in Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling from the uniform distribution of graphs with prescribed degrees.