Modulus of edge covers and stars

Abstract

This paper explores the modulus (discrete $p$-modulus) of the family of edge covers on a discrete graph. This modulus is closely related to that of the larger family of fractional edge covers; the modulus of the latter family is guaranteed to approximate the modulus of the former within a multiplicative factor. The bounds on edge cover modulus can be computed efficiently using a duality result that relates the fractional edge covers to the family of stars.