Domination Parameters of Graph Covers

Abstract: A graph $G$ is a \emph{cover} of a graph $F$ if there exists an onto mapping $\pi : V(G) \to V(F)$, called a (\emph{covering}) \emph{projection}, such that $\pi$ maps the neighbours of any vertex $v$ in $G$ bijectively onto the neighbours of $\pi(v)$ in $F$. This paper is the first attempt to study the connection between domination parameters and graph covers. We focus on the domination number, the total domination number, and the connected domination number. We prove tight upper bounds for the domination parameters of $G$. Moreover, we prove lower bounds for the domination parameters of $G$. Finally, we propose a conjecture on the lower bound for the domination number of $G$ and provide evidence to support the conjecture.