General Equitable Decompositions for Graphs with Symmetries

Abstract: Using the theory of equitable decompositions it is possible to decompose a matrix $M$ appropriately associated with a given graph. The result is a collection of smaller matrices whose collective eigenvalues are the same as the eigenvalues of the original matrix $M$. This is done by decomposing the matrix over a graph symmetry. Previously it was shown that a matrix can be equitably decomposed over any uniform, basic, or separable automorphism. Here we extend this theory to show that it is possible to equitably decompose a matrix over any automorphism of a graph, without restriction. Moreover, we give a step-by-step procedure which can be used to generate such a decomposition. We also prove under mild conditions that if a matrix $M$ is equitably decomposed the resulting divisor matrix, which is the divisor matrix of the associated equitable partition, will have the same spectral radius as the original matrix $M$.