An Ore-type condition for Hamiltonicity in tough graphs (Q2073293)

The number of components of a graph $G$ is denoted by $c(G)$. A graph $G$ is said to be $t$-tough, where $t$ is a nonnegative real number, if $|S| / c(G-S) \geq t$ for each $S \subseteq V(G)$ with $c(G-S) \geq 2$. A well-known theorem of Dirac states that if a graph $G$ of order $n \geq 3$ satisfies $\delta(G) \geq n/2$, then $G$ is Hamiltonian. \textit{D. Bauer} et al. [Graphs Comb. 22, No. 1, 1--35 (2006; Zbl 1088.05045)] proved that if $G$ is a $t$-tough graph of order $n \geq 3$ and $\delta(G) > n/(t+1) -1$, then $G$ is Hamiltonian. Ore's classic result improves that of Dirac in general. Ore's theorem says that if $G$ is a graph of order $n \geq 3$ and $\operatorname{deg}(u) + \operatorname{deg}(v) \geq n$ for every pair $u$, $v$ of nonadjacent vertices, then $G$ is Hamiltonian. A natural question is whether there is an Ore-type condition involving toughness that generalizes Ore's theorem. Here, the author proves that if $G$ is a $t$-tough graph of order $n \geq 3$ and $\operatorname{deg}(u) + \operatorname{deg}(v) > 2n/(t+1) + t-2$, for every pair $u$, $v$ of nonadjacent vertices, then $G$ is Hamiltonian. Furthermore, he conjectures that all one needs is $\operatorname{deg}(u) + \operatorname{deg}(v) > 2n/(t+1) -2$ to insure Hamiltonicity.