Growing Homophilic Networks Are Natural Navigable Small Worlds.

ABSTRACT: Navigability, an ability to find a logarithmically short path between elements using only local information, is one of the most fascinating properties of real-life networks. However, the exact mechanism responsible for the formation of navigation properties remained unknown. We show that navigability can be achieved by using only two ingredients present in the majority of networks: network growth and local homophily, giving a persuasive answer how the navigation appears in real-life networks. A very simple algorithm produces hierarchical self-similar optimally wired navigable small world networks with exponential degree distribution by using only local information. Adding preferential attachment produces a scale-free network which has shorter greedy paths, but worse (power law) scaling of

SUBMITTER: Malkov YA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4922669 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature