Isoperimetric Numbers of Regular Graphs of High Degree with Applications to Arithmetic Riemann Surfaces

We derive upper and lower bounds on the isoperimetric numbers and bisection widths of a large class of regular graphs of high degree. Our methods are combinatorial and do not require a knowledge of the eigenvalue spectrum. We apply these bounds to random regular graphs of high degree and the Platonic graphs over the rings Zn. In the latter case we show that these graphs are generally nonRamanujan for composite n and we also give sharp asymptotic bounds for the isoperimetric numbers. We conclude by giving bounds on the Cheeger constants of arithmetic Riemann surfaces. For a large class of these surfaces these bounds are an improvement over the known asymptotic bounds.