Spectral approaches for $d$-improper chromatic number

Abstract: In this paper, we explore algebraic approaches to $d$-improper and $t$-clustered colourings, where the colouring constraints are relaxed to allow some monochromatic edges. Bilu [J. Comb. Theory Ser. B, 96(4):608-613, 2006] proved a generalization of the Hoffman bound for $d$-improper colourings. We strengthen this theorem by characterizing the equality case. In particular, if the Hoffman bound is tight for a graph $G$, then the $d$-improper Hoffman bound is tight for the strong product $G \boxtimes K_{d+1}$. Moreover, we prove d-improper analogous for the inertia bound by Cvetkov\'ic and the multi-eigenvalue lower bounds of Elphick and Wocjan. We conjecture an equality between the chromatic number of a graph $G$ and the $d$-improper chromatic number of its strong product with a complete graph, $G \boxtimes K_{d+1}$, and prove the conjecture in special graph classes, including perfect graphs and graphs with chromatic number at most 4. Other supporting evidence for the conjecture includes a fractional analogue, a clustered analogue, and various spectral relaxations of the equality.