Isoperimetric Numbers of Regular Graphs of High Degree with Applications to Arithmetic Riemann Surfaces

Abstract

We derive upper and lower bounds on the isoperimetric numbers and bisection widths of a large class of regular graphs of high degree. Our methods are combinatorial and do not require a knowledge of the eigenvalue spectrum. We apply these bounds to random regular graphs of high degree and the Platonic graphs over the rings $\mathbb{Z}_n$. In the latter case we show that these graphs are generally non-Ramanujan for composite $n$ and we also give sharp asymptotic bounds for the isoperimetric numbers. We conclude by giving bounds on the Cheeger constants of arithmetic Riemann surfaces. For a large class of these surfaces these bounds are an improvement over the known asymptotic bounds.