Cyclically k-partite digraphs and k-kernels

Let D be a digraph, V (D) and A(D) will denote the sets of vertices and arcs of D, respectively. A (k, l)-kernel N of D is a k-independent set of vertices (if u, v ∈ N then d(u, v), d(v, u) ≥ k) and l-absorbent (if u ∈ V (D) − N then there exists v ∈ N such that d(u, v) ≤ l). A k-kernel is a (k, k − 1)-kernel. A digraph D is cyclically k-partite if there exists a partition {Vi} i=0 of V (D) such that every arc in D is a ViVi+1-arc (mod k). We give a characterization for an unilateral digraph to be cyclically k-partite through the lengths of directed cycles and directed cycles with one obstruction, in addition we prove that such digraphs always have a k-kernel. A study of some structural properties of cyclically k-partite digraphs is made which bring interesting consequences, e.g., sufficient conditions for a digraph to have k-kernel; a generalization of the well known and important theorem that states if every cycle of a graph G has even length, then G is bipartite (cyclically 2-partite), we prove that if every cycle of a graph G has length ≡ 0 (mod k) then G is cyclically k-partite; and a generalization of another well known result about bipartite digraphs, a strong digraph D is bipartite if and only if every directed cycle has even length, we prove that an unilateral digraphD is bipartite if and only if every directed cycle with at most one obstruction has even length. keywords: digraph, kernel, (k, l)-kernel, k-kernel, cyclically k-partite. AMS Subject Classification: 05C20.