Transport Properties of Random Walks on Scale-Free/Regular-Lattice Hybrid Networks

Abstract

We study numerically the mean access times for random walks on hybrid disordered structures formed by embedding scale-free networks into regular lattices, considering different transition rates for steps across lattice bonds (F) and across network shortcuts (f). For fast shortcuts (f/F≫1) and low shortcut densities, traversal time data collapse onto a universal curve, while a crossover behavior that can be related to the percolation threshold of the scale-free network component is identified at higher shortcut densities, in analogy to similar observations reported recently in Newman-Watts small-world networks. Furthermore, we observe that random walk traversal times are larger for networks with a higher degree of inhomogeneity in their shortcut distribution, and we discuss access time distributions as functions of the initial and final node degrees. These findings are relevant, in particular, when considering the optimization of existing information networks by the addition of a small number of fast shortcut connections.

Department(s)

Physics

Sponsor(s)

James S. McDonnell Foundation
National Science Foundation (U.S.)

Keywords and Phrases

Complex Networks; Random Walks

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0022-4715

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2007 Springer Verlag, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2007

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