Exactly solvable scale-free network model

TL;DR

This paper presents an exactly solvable deterministic scale-free network model, deriving analytical results for degree distribution, spectral properties, and symmetries, providing comprehensive insights into its structural and spectral characteristics.

Contribution

The paper introduces an exactly solvable model of a scale-free network, deriving analytical expressions for degree distribution, eigenvalues, degeneracies, and symmetries, which were previously unknown.

Findings

Degree distribution for hub nodes follows a power law with exponent 1.585.

Rim nodes exhibit an exponential degree distribution.

The adjacency matrix spectrum shows fractal degeneracy patterns.

Abstract

We study a deterministic scale-free network recently proposed by Barab\'{a}si, Ravasz and Vicsek. We find that there are two types of nodes: the hub and rim nodes, which form a bipartite structure of the network. We first derive the exact numbers $P(k)$ of nodes with degree $k$ for the hub and rim nodes in each generation of the network, respectively. Using this, we obtain the exact exponents of the distribution function $P(k)$ of nodes with $k$ degree in the asymptotic limit of $k \to \infty$. We show that the degree distribution for the hub nodes exhibits the scale-free nature, $P(k) \propto k^{-\gamma}$ with $\gamma = \ln3/\ln2 = 1.584962$, while the degree distribution for the rim nodes is given by $P(k) \propto e^{-\gamma'k}$ with $\gamma' = \ln(3/2) = 0.405465$. Second, we numerically as well as analytically calculate the spectra of the adjacency matrix $A$ for representing topology of the network. We also analytically obtain the exact number of degeneracy at each eigenvalue in the network. The density of states (i.e., the distribution function of eigenvalues) exhibits the fractal nature with respect to the degeneracy. Third, we study the mathematical structure of the determinant of the eigenequation for the adjacency matrix. Fourth, we study hidden symmetry, zero modes and its index theorem in the deterministic scale-free network. Finally, we study the nature of the maximum eigenvalue in the spectrum of the deterministic scale-free network. We will prove several theorems for it, using some mathematical theorems. Thus, we show that most of all important quantities in the network theory can be analytically obtained in the deterministic scale-free network model of Barab\'{a}si, Ravasz and Vicsek. Therefore, we may call this network model the exactly solvable scale-free network.