I wonder if the following graph-theoretical concepts have been considered before, and if so, under which name. ---------- Consider a directed graph $G$ with $n$ nodes. Let the **cycle number** $\gamma(\nu)$ be the length of the shortest directed cycle from node $\nu$ to itself. $\gamma(\nu) = 1$ when $\nu$ is connected to itself. Let $\gamma(\nu) = 0$ when there is no cycle from $\nu$ to itself. Let the **mean cycle number** $\overline{\gamma}(G)$ be $\frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^n \gamma(\nu_i)$. Let the **shortcutness** $\sigma(e)$ of edge $e$ be the number $$\sigma(e) = 1 - \frac{\overline{\gamma}(G\setminus\{e\})}{\overline{\gamma}(G)}$$ When $\sigma(e)=0$, i.e. $\overline{\gamma}(G\setminus\{e\}) = \overline{\gamma}(G)$, then edge $e$ doesn't act as a shortcut. When $\sigma(e)=1$, i.e. $\overline{\gamma}(G\setminus\{e\}) = 0$, then edge $e$ is contained in every cycle and thus is an ubiquitous shortcut. Let the **cycle number spectrum** be the function $f: \{0,\dots,n\} \rightarrow \{0,\dots,n\}$ with $f(k)$ being the number of nodes $\nu$ with $\gamma(\nu) = k$. We have $\sum_{k=0}^n f(k) = n$. ---------- My questions are: > Have some of these concepts be found useful in graph theory? If so, > under which names? > > Can the cycle number spectrum be related to other graph > characteristics? > > Which functions $f: \{0,\dots,n\} \rightarrow \{0,\dots,n\}$ can not > be cycle number spectra of any graph? [1]: https://mathoverflow.net/questions/273268/another-graph-characteristic