Random preferential attachment hypergraph

Chen Avin, Zvi Lotker, Yinon Nahum, David Peleg

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    8 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    In the future, analysis of social networks will conceivably move from graphs to hypergraphs. However, theory has not yet caught up with this type of data organizational structure. By introducing and analyzing a general model of preferential attachment hypergraphs, this paper makes a step towards narrowing this gap. We consider a random preferential attachment model H(p,Y) for network evolution that allows arrivals of both nodes and hyperedges of random size. At each time step t, two possible events may occur: (1) [vertex arrival event:] with probability p > 0 a new vertex arrives and a new hyperedge of size Yt, containing the new vertex and Yt − 1 existing vertices, is added to the hypergraph; or (2) [hyperedge arrival event:] with probability 1−p, a new hyperedge of size Yt, containing Yt existing vertices, is added to the hypergraph. In both cases, the involved existing vertices are chosen independently at random according to the preferential attachment rule, i.e., with probability proportional to their degree, where the degree of a vertex is the number of edges containing it. Assuming general restrictions on the distribution of Yt, we prove that the H(p,Y) model generates power law networks, i.e., the expected fraction of nodes with degree k is proportional to k1−Γ, where Γ = limt→∞ Pt(Et i=0 −[Y1tE]−[Ypi)] ∈ (0,∞). This extends the special case of preferential attachment graphs, where Yt = 2 for every t, yielding Γ = 2/(2 − p). Therefore, our results show that the exponent of the degree distribution is sensitive to whether one considers the structure of a social network to be a hypergraph or a graph. We discuss, and provide examples for, the implications of these considerations.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2019 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining, ASONAM 2019
    EditorsFrancesca Spezzano, Wei Chen, Xiaokui Xiao
    PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery, Inc
    Pages398-405
    Number of pages8
    ISBN (Electronic)9781450368681
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 27 Aug 2019
    Event11th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining, ASONAM 2019 - Vancouver, Canada
    Duration: 27 Aug 201930 Aug 2019

    Publication series

    NameProceedings of the 2019 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining, ASONAM 2019

    Conference

    Conference11th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining, ASONAM 2019
    Country/TerritoryCanada
    CityVancouver
    Period27/08/1930/08/19

    Keywords

    • Degree distribution
    • Preferential attachment
    • Random hypergraphs
    • Social networks

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Communication
    • Computer Networks and Communications
    • Information Systems and Management
    • Sociology and Political Science

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