Statistical mechanics of complex networks

Complex networks describe a wide range of systems in nature and society. Frequently cited examples include Internet, WWW, a network of chemicals linked by chemical reactions, social relationship networks, citation networks, etc. The research of complex networks has attracted many scientists' attention. Physicists have shown that these networks exhibit some surprising characters, such as high clustering coefficient, small diameter, and the absence of the thresholds of percolat...

The success of new scientific areas can be assessed by their potential for contributing to new theoretical approaches and in applications to real-world problems. Complex networks have fared extremely well in both of these aspects, with their sound theoretical basis developed over the years and with a variety of applications. In this survey, we analyze the applications of complex networks to real-world problems and data, with emphasis in representation, analysis and modeling, ...

Each complex network (or class of networks) presents specific topological features which characterize its connectivity and highly influence the dynamics of processes executed on the network. The analysis, discrimination, and synthesis of complex networks therefore rely on the use of measurements capable of expressing the most relevant topological features. This article presents a survey of such measurements. It includes general considerations about complex network characteriz...

In this paper, we explore the relationship between the topological characteristics of a complex network and its robustness to sustained targeted attacks. Using synthesised scale-free, small-world and random networks, we look at a number of network measures, including assortativity, modularity, average path length, clustering coefficient, rich club profiles and scale-free exponent (where applicable) of a network, and how each of these influence the robustness of a network unde...

Based on a rigorous extension of classical statistical mechanics to networks, we study a specific microscopic network Hamiltonian. The form of this Hamiltonian is derived from the assumption that individual nodes increase/decrease their utility by linking to nodes with a higher/lower degree than their own. We interpret utility as an equivalent to energy in physical systems and discuss the temperature dependence of the emerging networks. We observe the existence of a critical ...

A survey is made of several aspects of the dynamics of networks, with special emphasis on unsupervised learning processes, non-Gaussian data analysis and pattern recognition in networks with complex nodes.

This review presents an account of the major works done on spectra of adjacency matrices drawn on networks and the basic understanding attained so far. We have divided the review under three sections: (a) extremal eigenvalues, (b) bulk part of the spectrum and (c) degenerate eigenvalues, based on the intrinsic properties of eigenvalues and the phenomena they capture. We have reviewed the works done for spectra of various popular model networks, such as the Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi r...

This chapter aims at reviewing complex networks models and methods that were either developed for or applied to socioeconomic issues, and pertinent to the theme of New Economic Geography. After an introduction to the foundations of the field of complex networks, the present summary adds insights on the statistical mechanical approach, and on the most relevant computational aspects for the treatment of these systems. As the most frequently used model for interacting agent-base...

1. The birth of network science. 2. What are random networks? 3. Adjacency matrix. 4. Degree distribution. 5. What are simple networks? Classical random graphs. 6. Birth of the giant component. 7. Topology of the Web. 8.Uncorrelated networks. 9. What are small worlds? 10. Real networks are mesoscopic objects. 11. What are complex networks? 12. The configuration model. 13. The absence of degree--degree correlations. 14.Networks with correlated degrees.15.Clustering. 16. What a...

We propose new direction to understanding evolutionary dynamics of complex networks using two different types of collaboration networks: academic collaboration networks; and, disaster collaboration networks. The results show that academic collaboration network has all properties of small-world networks and can be considered a real small-world network with the result of its structural analysis maybe being extendable for other real-networks who share the common grounds of small...