Hidden symmetries in real and theoretical networks

Dallas Smith and Benjamin Webb

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2019, vol. 514, issue C, 855-867

Abstract: Symmetries are ubiquitous in real networks and often characterize network features and functions. Here we present a generalization of network symmetry called latent symmetry, which is an extension of the standard notion of symmetry on networks, which can be directed, weighted or both. They are defined in terms of standard symmetries in a reduced version of the network. One unique aspect of latent symmetries is that each one is associated with a size, which provides a way of discussing symmetries at multiple scales in a network. We are able to demonstrate a number of examples of networks (graphs) which contain latent symmetry, including a number of real networks. In numerical experiments, we show that latent symmetries are found more frequently in graphs built using preferential attachment, a standard model of network growth, when compared to non-network like (Erdős–Rényi) graphs. Finally we prove that if vertices in a network are latently symmetric, then they must have the same eigenvector centrality, similar to vertices which are symmetric in the standard sense. This suggests that the latent symmetries present in real-networks may serve the same structural and functional purpose standard symmetries do in these networks. We conclude from these facts and observations that latent symmetries are present in real networks and provide useful information about the network potentially beyond standard symmetries as they can appear at multiple scales.

Keywords: Graph automorphism; Network symmetry; Isospectral network reduction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378437118312809
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only. Journal offers the option of making the article available online on Science direct for a fee of $3,000

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:514:y:2019:i:c:p:855-867

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2018.09.131

Access Statistics for this article

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications is currently edited by K. A. Dawson, J. O. Indekeu, H.E. Stanley and C. Tsallis

More articles in Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().