Taut distance-regular graphs and the subconstituent algebra (Q2502897)

This paper deals with bipartite distance-regular graphs \(\Gamma \) with diameter \(D\geq 4\), valency \(k\geq 3\) and intersection numbers \(a_{i},b_{i},c_{i}\). The authors obtain some results on the subconstituent algebra of \(\Gamma \) introduced by \textit{P. Terwilliger} [J. Algebr. Comb. 1, 363--388 (1992; Zbl 0785.05089)], and some related results concerning the taut condition proposed by \textit{M. S. MacLean} [Discrete Math. 225, 193--216 (2000; Zbl 1001.05124)]. Upper and lower bounds for the local eigenvalues are obtained in terms of the intersection numbers of \(\Gamma \) and the eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix of \(\Gamma \). A detailed description of the thin irreducible \(T\)-modules that have endpoint 2 and dimension \(D-3\) is given, where \(T=T(x)\) is the Terwilliger algebra of \(\Gamma \) with respect to vertex \(x\). Three characterizations of the taut condition are obtained, each of which involving the local eigenvalues or the above \(T\)-modules.