Random walks and search in time-varying networks.
The random walk process underlies the description of a large number of real-world phenomena. Here we provide the study of random walk processes in time-varying networks in the regime of time-scale mixing, i.e., when the network connectivity pattern and the random walk process dynamics are unfolding on the same time scale. We consider a model for time-varying networks created from the activity potential of the nodes and derive solutions of the asymptotic behavior of random walks and the mean first passage time in undirected and directed networks. Our findings show striking differences with respect to the well-known results obtained in quenched and annealed networks, emphasizing the effects of dynamical connectivity patterns in the definition of proper strategies for search, retrieval, and diffusion processes in time-varying networks.
Laboratory for the Modeling of Biological and Socio-technical Systems, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Nicola
N
Perra
Andrea
A
Baronchelli
Delia
D
Mocanu
Bruno
B
Gonçalves
Romualdo
R
Pastor-Satorras
Alessandro
A
Vespignani
D007255:Information Services; D008962:Models, Theoretical