Enriching and analyzing small citation networks: A case study on transistor’s history

• Published in: Physica A 2021-07, Vol.573, p.125901, Article 125901
• Main Authors: Benatti, Alexandre, Ferraz de Arrruda, Henrique, Nascimento Silva, Filipi, da Fontoura Costa, Luciano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bipolar junction transistor; Electronics; Historical analysis; Modular networks; Network science
• ISSN: 0378-4371; 1873-2119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2021.125901

The development of modern electronics was to a large extent related to the advent and popularization of bipolar junction technology. The present work applies science of science concepts and methodologies in order to develop a relatively systematic, quantitative study of the development of electronics from a bipolar-junction perspective. First, we searched the adopted dataset (Microsoft Academic Graph) for entries related to “bipolar junction transistor”. Community detection was then applied in order to derive sub-areas, which were tentatively labeled into 10 overall groups. This modular graph was then studied from several perspectives, taking into account topological measurements as well as time evolution. A number of interesting results are reported, including a good level of thematic coherence within each identified area, as well as the identification of distinct periods over time including the onset and coming of age of bipolar junction technology and related areas. A particularly surprising result was the verification of a particularly stable interrelationship between the identified areas along time. •History of electronics is studied from the perspective of junction transistors.•The data is investigated in the view of network science.•The patterns of interconnection between areas are found to be preserved.•In our analysis, we used data obtained from Microsoft Academic Graph.