# Highly connected graphs with no K_n minor

 Importance: High ✭✭✭
 Author(s): Thomas, Robin
 Subject: Graph Theory » Basic Graph Theory » » Minors
 Keywords: connectivity minor
\begin{problem} Is it true for all $n \ge 0$, that every sufficiently large $n$-\Def[connected]{connectivity (graph theory)} graph without a \Def[$K_n$]{complete graph} \Def[minor]{minor (graph theory)} has a set of $n-5$ vertices whose deletion results in a \Def{planar graph}? \end{problem}
A famous \OPref[conjecture of Jorgensen]{jorgensens_conjecture} asserts that every 6-connected graph without a $K_6$-minor is apex (planar plus one vertex). If true, Jorgensen's conjecture does not generalize (naively) to higher connectivities, since for sufficiently large $n$, there do exist $n$-connected graphs which are not close to planar in the sense we are considering (many more than $n-5$ vertices must be deleted to leave a planar graph). This conjecture of Thomas asserts that all such graphs are small in size.
For $n \le 6$ this conjecture is true. For $n \le 4$ this conjecture is trivial, since any graph without a $K_4$-minor is planar. The $n=5$ case follows from a theorem of Wagner which gives a construction for all graphs without $K_5$-minors (and from which it follows that every 4-connected graph with no $K_5$ minor is planar). The $n=6$ case was recently resolved by DeVos, Hegde, Kawarabayashi, Norine, Thomas, and Wollan. The difficulties associated with finding $K_n$ minors in graphs make this conjecture appear daunting, but if true, it would yield powerful insight into the structure of graphs.