On the maximum $F$-free induced subgraphs in $K_t$-free graphs

Abstract

For graphs $F$ and $H$, let $f_{F,H}(n)$ be the minimum possible size of a maximum $F$-free induced subgraph in an $n$-vertex $H$-free graph. This notion generalizes the Ramsey function and the Erd\H{o}s--Rogers function. Establishing a container lemma for the $F$-free subgraphs, we give a general upper bound on $f_{F,H}(n)$, assuming the existence of certain locally dense $H$-free graphs. In particular, we prove that for every graph $F$ with $\mathrm{ex}(m,F) = O(m^{1+\alpha})$, where $\alpha \in [0,1/2)$, we have \[ f_{F, K_3}(n) = O\left(n^{\frac{1}{2-\alpha}}\left(\log n\right)^{\frac{3}{2- \alpha}}\right) \quad \textrm{and} \quad f_{F, K_4}(n) = O\left(n^{\frac{1}{3-2\alpha}}\left(\log n\right)^{\frac{6}{3-2\alpha}}\right). \] For the cases where $F$ is a complete multipartite graph, letting $s = \sum_{i=1}^r s_i$, we prove that \[ f_{K_{s_1,\ldots,s_r}, K_{r+2}}(n) = O \left( n^{\frac{2s -3}{4s -5}} (\log n)^{3} \right). \] We also make an observation which improves the bounds of $\mathrm{ex}(G(n,p),C_4)$ by a polylogarithmic factor.