We study the use of spectral techniques for graph partitioning. Let G=(V,E) be a graph whose vertex set has a ``latent'' partition V_1,...,V_k. Moreover, consider a ``density matrix'' E=(E_vw)_{v,w in V} such that for v in V_i and w in V_j the entry E_{vw} is the fraction of all possible ... more >>>

Convex relaxations based on different hierarchies of
linear/semi-definite programs have been used recently to devise
approximation algorithms for various optimization problems. The
approximation guarantee of these algorithms improves with the number
of {\em rounds} $r$ in the hierarchy, though the complexity of solving
(or even writing down the solution for) ... more >>>

In this work we study the testability of a family of graph partition properties that generalizes a family previously studied by Goldreich, Goldwasser, and Ron (Journal of the ACM, 1998). While the family studied by Goldreich et al. includes a variety of natural properties, such as k-colorability and containing a ... more >>>