On uniquely list colorable graphs

Abstract

Let G be a graph with n vertices and suppose that for each vertex v in G, there exists a list of k colors L(v), such that there is a unique proper coloring for G from this collection of lists, then G is called a uniquely k-list colorable graph. Recently M. Mahdian and E.S. Mahmoodian characterized uniquely 2-list colorable graphs. Here we state some results which will pave the way in characterization of uniquely k-list colorable graphs. There is a relationship between this concept and defining sets in graph colorings and critical sets in latin squares.