On $\ell$-distance balanced product graphs

Abstract: A graph $G$ is $\ell$-distance-balanced if for each pair of vertices $x$ and $y$ at distance $\ell$ in $G$, the number of vertices closer to $x$ than to $y$ is equal to the number of vertices closer to $y$ than to $x$. A complete characterization of $\ell$-distance-balanced corona products is given and a characterization of lexicographic products for $\ell \ge 3$, thus complementing known results for $\ell\in {1,2}$ and correcting an earlier related assertion. A sufficient condition on $H$ which guarantees that $K_n \,\square\, H$ is $\ell$-distance-balanced is given and it is proved that if $K_n \,\square\, H$ is $\ell$-distance-balanced, then $H$ is an $\ell$-distance-balanced graph. A known characterization of $1$-distance-balanced graphs is extended to $\ell$-distance-balanced graphs, again correcting an earlier claimed assertion.