Complex networks created by aggregation

TL;DR

This paper investigates how aggregation processes lead to complex network structures, including scale-free distributions and phase transitions, emphasizing the role of structural correlations in network evolution.

Contribution

It introduces aggregation as a mechanism for generating complex networks and analyzes the resulting architectures, including phase transitions and correlations.

Findings

Aggregation produces scale-free and fat-tailed degree distributions.

Network structure varies with connection density.

Edge condensation phase transition occurs.

Abstract

We study aggregation as a mechanism for the creation of complex networks. In this evolution process vertices merge together, which increases the number of highly connected hubs. We study a range of complex network architectures produced by the aggregation. Fat-tailed (in particular, scale-free) distributions of connections are obtained both for networks with a finite number of vertices and growing networks. We observe a strong variation of a network structure with growing density of connections and find the phase transition of the condensation of edges. Finally, we demonstrate the importance of structural correlations in these networks.