Forbidden induced-subgraph characterization of circle graphs

Characterize finite circle graphs in terms of their forbidden induced subgraphs, resolving the open status of this characterization problem.

Background

Circle graphs are intersection graphs of chords of a circle. The paper notes that, although Bouchet characterized circle graphs using three forbidden vertex minors, a characterization by forbidden induced subgraphs remains unresolved. This is presented as a longstanding structural question concerning the recognition and description of the class of circle graphs.