Extremal inverse eigenvalue problem for matrices described by a connected unicyclic graph

Abstract

In this paper, we deal with the construction of symmetric matrix whose corresponding graph is connected and unicyclic using some pre-assigned spectral data. Spectral data for the problem consist of the smallest and the largest eigenvalues of each leading principal submatrices. Inverse eigenvalue problem (IEP) with this set of spectral data is generally known as the extremal IEP. We use a standard scheme of labeling the vertices of the graph, which helps in getting a simple relation between the characteristic polynomials of each leading principal submatrix. Sufficient condition for the existence of the solution is obtained. The proof is constructive, hence provides an algorithmic procedure for finding the required matrix. Furthermore, we provide the condition under which the same problem is solvable when two particular entries of the required matrix satisfy a linear relation.