$λ$-matchability in cubic graphs

Abstract: Sch\"onberger (1934) showed that every 2-connected cubic graph is matching covered. For a vertex $v$ of a 2-connected cubic graph $G$, a $v$-matching is a spanning subgraph in which $v$ has degree three whereas every other vertex has degree one; we say that $v$ is $\lambda$-matchable if $G$ admits a $v$-matching, and we let $\lambda(G)$ denote the number of such vertices. Clearly, no vertex is $\lambda$-matchable in bipartite graphs; we instead consider $\lambda$-matchable pairs defined analogously; we let $\rho$ denote the number of such pairs. Chen, Lu and Zhang [Discrete Math., 2025] studied $\lambda$-matchability and showed constants lower bounds on $\lambda$ and $\rho$. We establish stronger lower bounds that feature matching-theoretic invariants that arise from the work of Lov\'asz. Lov\'asz [J. Combin. Theory Ser. B, 1987] proved that every matching covered graph $G$ admits a unique decomposition' into special ones calledbraces' (bipartite) and bricks' (nonbipartite); $b(G)$ denotes the number of its bricks, $\beta(G)$ denotes the sum of the orders of its bricks, $b'(G)$ denotes the number of its braces of order six or more, and $\beta'(G):=\sum \left(\frac{n(H)}{2}\right)^2$, wherein the sum is over all its braces $H$ of order six or more. We prove that 3-connected cubic graphs satisfy $\lambda \geq \beta$, and that the bipartite ones satisfy $\rho \geq \beta'+3b'-3 \geq 3n-9$. We use the fact that every 2-connected cubic graph admits aunique decomposition' into 3-connected ones to extend our bounds. We show that the same bound $\lambda \geq \beta$ holds for all 2-connected cubic graphs, and we also characterize those that satisfy $\lambda=n$. Our generalized lower bounds on $\rho$, in the case of bipartite graphs, feature invariants that rely on the aforementioned decomposition. For each bound, we characterize all tight examples.