Duality theorems for stars and combs IV: Undominating stars

Abstract: In a series of four papers we determine structures whose existence is dual, in the sense of complementary, to the existence of stars or combs. In the first paper of our series we determined structures that are complementary to arbitrary stars or combs. Stars and combs can be combined, positively as well as negatively. In the second and third paper of our series we provided duality theorems for all but one of the possible combinations. In this fourth and final paper of our series, we complete our solution to the problem of finding complementary structures for stars, combs, and their combinations, by presenting duality theorems for the missing piece: for undominating stars. Our duality theorems are phrased in terms of end-compactified subgraphs, tree-decompositions and tangle-distinguishing separators.