title: Local method for detecting communities.
abstract: We propose a method of community detection that is computationally inexpensive and possesses physical significance to a member of a social network. This method is unlike many divisive and agglomerative techniques and is local in the sense that a community can be detected within a network without requiring knowledge of the entire network. A global application of this method is also introduced. Several artificial and real-world networks, including the famous Zachary karate club, are analyzed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York 13699-5820, USA.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bagrow
authors.forename: Erik M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bollt