Self-complementary completions on six vertices

RESUMO

Let \(\cthreshold(n)\) be the largest integer \(q\) such that every loopless digraph on \(n\) vertices with at most \(q\) arcs is isomorphic to a spanning subdigraph of a self-complementary digraph of order \(n\). We prove that \(\cthreshold(6)=7\). The upper bound is witnessed by \[ \bK{3}\dunion (x\longrightarrow y\longrightarrow z), \] and follows from a direct argument with a self-complementing permutation. We also determine the complete eight-arc obstruction layer: it consists of five isomorphism classes, or three after converse digraphs are identified. All five are arc-minimal. Each nevertheless packs with an isomorphic copy of itself, so ordinary packing is strictly weaker than same-order self-complementary completion already at this first failure layer.