Deterministic $n^{O(\log n)}$ Graph Isomorphism Algorithm via Inherited Decompositions

Abstract

We give a deterministic $n^{O(\log n)}$-time algorithm for graph isomorphism. To our knowledge, this is the first proof of such a worst-case bound for general graphs. The algorithm uses the local-certificate and color-refinement steps of Babai's quasipolynomial algorithm, but retains the decomposition of each recursive instance when it solves an auxiliary coloring problem. There are two reasons for retaining this information. First, a local test can make progress without removing many vertices: it can eliminate a layer of permutation symmetry. A logarithmic bound on the total weight of these layers allows tests of constant size. Second, the auxiliary bipartite graphs arising in the symmetry-breaking step can be represented inside the current instance, after retaining a row decomposition when necessary. These recursive calls inherit the progress already made. The analysis gives a recurrence with quadratic logarithmic cost and a fixed power decrease in every fresh recursive call, improving the explicit cubic logarithmic exponent in the analysis of the corrected Luks--Babai algorithm. We present the algorithm through colorings, partitions, and bipartite graphs, and collect the permutation-group ingredients in one appendix. The result extends to string isomorphism and returns one isomorphism and generators for the full automorphism group.