title: Robustness of the avalanche dynamics in data-packet transport on scale-free networks.
abstract: We study the avalanche dynamics in the data-packet transport on scale-free networks through a simple model. In the model, each vertex is assigned a capacity proportional to the load with the proportionality constant 1+a . When the system is perturbed by a single vertex removal, the load of each vertex is redistributed, followed by subsequent failures of overloaded vertices. The avalanche size depends on the parameter a as well as which vertex triggers it. We find that there exists a critical value a(c) at which the avalanche size distribution follows a power law. The critical exponent associated with it appears to be robust as long as the degree exponent is between 2 and 3 and is close in value to that of the distribution of the diameter changes by single vertex removal.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Center for Theoretical Physics, Seoul National University NS50, Seoul 151-747, Korea.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K-I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kahng
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim