Planarity criteria for metric graphs

Abstract

The Colin de Verdi\`ere parameter is a number assigned to discrete graphs which equals the maximal multiplicity of the second eigenvalue of a certain family of Laplacian matrices related to the graph. In this paper it is shown that the Colin de Verdi\`ere parameter can be obtained in the setting of metric graphs by looking at the maximal multiplicity of the second eigenvalue for Laplacians on metric graphs with delta couplings at the vertices. Two different families of Laplacians, as well as a family of Schr\"odinger operators, all leading to the Colin de Verdi\`ere number are presented.