Explosive Percolation in Scale-Free Networks
Radicchi, F, Fortunato, SPhys. Rev. Lett. 103, 168701 (2009)
Times cited: 83
Abstract
We study scale-free networks constructed via a cooperative Achlioptas
growth process. Links between nodes are introduced in order to produce
a scale-free graph with given exponent lambda for the degree
distribution, but the choice of each new link depends on the mass of
the clusters that this link will merge. Networks constructed via this
biased procedure show a percolation transition which strongly differs
from the one observed in standard percolation, where links are
introduced just randomly. The different growth process leads to a phase
transition with a nonvanishing percolation threshold already for lambda
> lambda© similar to 2: 2. More interestingly, the transition is
continuous when lambda <= 3 but becomes discontinuous when lambda >
3.
This may have important consequences for both the structure of networks
and for the dynamics of processes taking place on them.