Towards P\'osa's Conjecture for $3$-graphs

Abstract

We prove that every $3$-graph $H$ on $n$ vertices with minimum codegree $\delta_2(H) \geq 7n/9 + o(n)$ contains the square of a tight Hamilton cycle. This strengthens a theorem of Bedenknecht and Reiher that $\delta_2(H) \geq 4n/5 + o(n)$ is sufficient. The central novelty of our arguments is an improved understanding of the connectivity structure of $3$-graphs with large minimum codegree.