Title:	Small worlds: How and why
Authors:	Mathias, Nisha Gopal, Venkatesh
Issue Date:	Feb-2001
Publisher:	The American Physical Society
Citation:	Physical Review E, 2001, Vol.63, 021117
Abstract:	We investigate small-world networks from the point of view of their origin. While the characteristics of small-world networks are now fairly well understood, there is as yet no work on what drives the emergence of such a network architecture. In situations such as neural or transportation networks, where a physical distance between the nodes of the network exists, we study whether the small-world topology arises as a consequence of a tradeoff between maximal connectivity and minimal wiring. Using simulated annealing, we study the properties of a randomly rewired network as the relative tradeoff between wiring and connectivity is varied. When the network seeks to minimize wiring, a regular graph results. At the other extreme, when connectivity is maximized, a “random” network is obtained. In the intermediate regime, a small-world network is formed. However, unlike the model of Watts and Strogatz [Nature 393, 440 (1998)], we find an alternate route to small-world behavior through the formation of hubs, small clusters where one vertex is connected to a large number of neighbors.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/2289/1200
ISSN:	1539-3755 1550-2376 (online)
Alternative Location:	http://prola.aps.org/abstract/PRE/v63/i2/e021117
Copyright:	(2001) by the American Physical Society
Appears in Collections:	Research Papers (LAMP)

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