Linear time single-source shortest path algorithms in Euclidean graph classes

Abstract

In the celebrated paper of Henzinger, Klein, Rao and Subramanian (1997), it was shown that planar graphs admit a linear time single-source shortest path algorithm. Their algorithm unfortunately does not extend to Euclidean graph classes. We give criteria and prove that any Euclidean graph class satisfying the criteria admits a linear time single-source shortest path algorithm. As a main ingredient, we show that the contracted graphs of these Euclidean graph classes admit sublinear separators.