On the recolorability of $(2K_2, K_4)$-free graphs

Abstract

Given a graph $G$ and an integer $\ell>χ(G)$, the reconfiguration graph of the $\ell$-colorings of $G$ has as its vertices as the proper $\ell$-colorings of $G$, with an edge between two colorings whenever they differ on exactly one vertex. We say that $G$ is \emph{recolorable} if this reconfiguration graph is connected for every $\ell>χ(G)$. Belavadi and Cameron determined which $(F_1,F_2)$-free graphs are recolorable whenever $F_1$ and $F_2$ are graphs on at most four vertices, with the single exception of $(2K_2,K_4)$-free graphs. Gaspers and Huang showed such graphs are $4$-colorable. The $3$-colorable case within this class has also been resolved, leaving the open question of whether every $(2K_2,K_4)$-free graph with chromatic number $4$ is recolorable. In this paper, we provide evidence toward an affirmative answer by establishing recolorability for three subclasses: $(2K_2,K_4,C_5)$-free graphs, $(2K_2,K_4,H_a,H_b)$-free graphs for any distinct $a,b\in \{2,3,4\}$, and $(2K_2,K_4,H_4)$-free graphs containing an induced $W_5$, where $H_i$ denotes the unique $2K_2$-free graph obtained from a $W_5$ by keeping exactly $i$ edges from the universal vertex to the cycle.