Discrete Einstein metrics on trees

Abstract

We establish the existence and uniqueness of discrete Einstein metrics on trees under Lin-Lu-Yau Ricci curvature using Perron-Frobenius theory. We establish a sharp upper bound for the largest eigenvalue of the associated Ricci matrix in terms of the maximum degree. Turning to structural properties, notably, the existence of a positive-curvature Einstein metric implies the tree must be a caterpillar. Furthermore, these metrics exhibit radial monotonicity, with edge weights decreasing strictly away from the maximal edge.