Synchronization of Non-Linear Random Walk Dynamics in Complex Network

TL;DR

This paper investigates how non-linear stochastic dynamics, modeled by self-avoiding walks, synchronize across complex networks, revealing how network structure influences synchronization efficiency and identifying key contributing nodes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel framework for analyzing synchronization in non-linear random walk dynamics and applies it to various network models, highlighting structural influences.

Findings

Smaller synchronizability in Watts-Strogatz and geographical networks

More uniform synchronizability in Watts-Strogatz and path-regular networks

Correlation between synchronizability and node degree or accessibility

Abstract

This work addresses synchronization in transient, non-linear stochastic dynamics corresponding to accesses performed by self-avoiding walks originating at each node of a complex network. More specifically, the synchronizability of accesses incoming from other nodes has been considered and quantified in terms of the entropy of the mean periods of access, being closely associated to the efficiency of access delivery to each node. The concept of synchronous support of a node $i$ has also been suggested as corresponding to the nodes which contribute the most for the synchronization of the accesses to $i$. These concepts have been applied to the analysis of 6 networks of different types, leading to markedly smaller synchronizability being obtained for the Watts-Strogatz and a geographical models. The more uniform synchronizabilities were identified for the Watts-Strogatz and path-regular structures. Varying degrees of correlations were found between the synchronizability and the degree or outward accessibility of the nodes. The synchronous support of a node $i$ has been found to present diverse structure, including nodes which may be near to $i$, or nodes which are scattered through the network and far away from $i$.