Skipping Ropes: An Efficient Gray Code Algorithm for Generating Wiggly Permutations

Vincent Pilaud, Aaron Williams

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Wiggly permutations were introduced by Bapat and Pilaud (Wigglyhedron Mathematische Zeitschrift 2025). We positively answer one of their conjectures by finding a Hamilton path in the wiggly flip graph that is isomorphic to the wigglyhedron. Our path provides a Gray code in which successive wiggly permutations are obtained by a single jump or hop, meaning that one or two consecutive symbols move past some number of smaller symbols. The Gray code has a simple greedy description that produces a recursive zig-zag pattern reminiscent of plain changes for permutations. More broadly, our results extend Algorithm J and the series of papers on zig-zag languages initiated by Hartung, Hoang, Mütze and Williams (Combinatorial Generation via Permutation Languages SODA 2020). Finally, we use wiggly changes as the basis for an O(n)-time delay generation algorithm.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication19th International Symposium on Algorithms and Data Structures, WADS 2025
EditorsPat Morin, Eunjin Oh
PublisherSchloss Dagstuhl- Leibniz-Zentrum fur Informatik GmbH, Dagstuhl Publishing
ISBN (Electronic)9783959773980
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Aug 2025
Externally publishedYes
Event19th International Symposium on Algorithms and Data Structures, WADS 2025 - Toronto, Canada
Duration: 11 Aug 202515 Aug 2025

Publication series

NameLeibniz International Proceedings in Informatics, LIPIcs
Volume349
ISSN (Print)1868-8969

Conference

Conference19th International Symposium on Algorithms and Data Structures, WADS 2025
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityToronto
Period11/08/2515/08/25

Keywords

  • Gray code
  • Hamilton path
  • combinatorial generation
  • flip graph
  • generation algorithm
  • pattern avoidance
  • permutahedron
  • permutations
  • wiggly permutations
  • wigglyhedron

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