Nonlocality of Cover-Time Changes Under Edge Addition

Abstract

Let $G$ be a finite connected simple graph, let $uv$ be a nonedge, and let $s$ be a starting vertex. We study the exact change in the expected cover time of simple random walk when $uv$ is inserted. A killed Green matrix update, combined with target-set inclusion-exclusion, gives an exact formula using only the original graph. The response can have either sign. Our main result is a nonlocality theorem. For every radius $r\geq 1$, we construct two marked configurations whose ambient-degree-labelled radius-$r$ neighbourhoods at $s,u,v$ are isomorphic but whose fixed-start cover-time responses have opposite signs. The construction also matches the three marked degrees, the marked distance, and the effective resistance $R_{uv}$. The two graphs have different orders; equal-order nonlocality remains open. We complement this result with a conductance interpolation theorem and an occupation interpretation of its high-conductance coefficient. After contracting $u$ and $v$, that coefficient is a positive multiple of the expected pre-cover occupation of the contracted vertex, and its zero case is classified exactly. A path with two pendant insertion endpoints is solved for all starting vertices and shows a sharp change of sign across the start set.