title: Vulnerability and protection of infrastructure networks.
abstract: Infrastructure systems are a key ingredient of modern society. We discuss a general method to find the critical components of an infrastructure network, i.e., the nodes and the links fundamental to the perfect functioning of the network. Such nodes, and not the most connected ones, are the targets to protect from terrorist attacks. The method, used as an improvement analysis, can also help to better shape a planned expansion of the network.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania and INFN, Via S. Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Latora
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchiori