A vibrational approach to node centrality and vulnerability in complex networks

Ernesto Estrada, N. Hatano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

We propose a new measure of vulnerability of a node in a complex network. The measure is based on the analogy in which the nodes of the network are represented by balls and the links are identified with springs. We define the measure as the node displacement, or the amplitude of vibration of each node, under fluctuation due to the thermal bath in which the network is supposed to be submerged. We prove exact relations among the thus defined node displacement, the information centrality and the Kirchhoff index. The relation between the first two suggests that the node displacement has a better resolution of the vulnerability than the information centrality, because the latter is the sum of the local node displacement and the node displacement averaged over the entire network.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3648-3660
Number of pages12
JournalPhysica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications
Volume389
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Keywords

  • Network vibrations
  • Centrality
  • Spectral theory
  • Kirchhoff index
  • Information centrality
  • Social networks

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