Information mobility in complex networks

Estrada, Ernesto (2009) Information mobility in complex networks. Physical Review E: Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, 80 (2). pp. 1-38. 026104. ISSN 2470-0053 (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.80.026104)

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Abstract

The concept of information mobility in complex networks is introduced on the basis of a stochastic process taking place in the network. The transition matrix for this process represents the probability that the information arising at a given node is transferred to a target one. We use the fractional powers of this transition matrix to investigate the stochastic process at fractional time intervals. The mobility coefficient is then introduced on the basis of the trace of these fractional powers of the stochastic matrix. The fractional time at which a network diffuses 50% of the information contained in its nodes (1/ k50 ) is also introduced. We then show that the scale-free random networks display better spread of information than the non scale-free ones. We study 38 real-world networks and analyze their performance in spreading information from their nodes. We find that some real-world networks perform even better than the scale-free networks with the same average degree and we point out some of the structural parameters that make this possible.

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