Isolation partitions in graphs

Abstract

Let $G$ be a graph and $k \geq 3$ an integer. A subset $D \subseteq V(G)$ is a $k$-clique (resp., cycle) isolating set of $G$ if $G-N[D]$ contains no $k$-clique (resp., cycle). In this paper, we prove that every connected graph with maximum degree at most $k$, except $k$-clique, can be partitioned into $k+1$ disjoint $k$-clique isolating sets, and that every connected claw-free subcubic graph, except 3-cycle, can be partitioned into four disjoint cycle isolating sets. As a consequence of the first result, every $k$-regular graph can be partitioned into $k+1$ disjoint $k$-clique isolating sets.