LACOvy walk in complex networks: An efficient way of mobility

• Published in: Physica A 2014-02, Vol.396, p.212-223
• Main Authors: Zhao, Yi, Weng, Tongfeng, Huang, Defeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Diffusion; Entropy; Graphs; Logarithms; Networks; Random walk; Statistical mechanics; Strategy
• ISSN: 0378-4371
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2013.11.004

To obtain an efficient diffusion process is an intriguing and important issue in the study of dynamical behaviors on real networks. Most previous studies are mainly focused on the analysis based on the random walk strategy, whose entropy rate is bounded by the logarithm of the largest node degree of a given graph. In this paper, we take into account a novel strategy named LACOvy walk and derive the general expression of entropy rate of LACOvy walk on networks. We present numerical evidences for how the LACOvy walk strategy delivers an efficient diffusion process on networks and significantly increases the entropy rate compared with the random walk strategy. It is further demonstrated that the capability of LACOvy walk heavily relies on the network topology as well as the amount of information available regarding the network structure. Specifically, the behavior of LACOvy walk is highly sensitive to the distribution of shortest distances of the network and its variation. To address this finding, we thereby give a theoretical explanation of the relationship between the variation of shortest distances and the entropy rate of LACOvy walk. This work may help to enrich our understanding of the behavior of LACOvy walk and further guide us to find an efficient diffusion process on networks.