The Nature of Complex Networks

Abstract

Abstract The researchers studying complex networks will acquire from this advanced modern book a number of new issues and ideas, not yet touched upon in other reference volumes. The book considers a wide range of networks and processes taking place on them, paying particular attention to the recently developed directions, methods, and techniques. It proposes a statistical mechanics view of random networks based on the concept of statistical ensembles, but approaches and methods of modern graph theory, concerning random graphs, overlap strongly with statistical physics. Hence mathematicians have a good chance to discover interesting things in this book, even though it does not contain mathematical proofs and trades off rigour for comprehension, brevity, and relevance. The book combines features of an advanced textbook, a reference book and a detailed review of the current state of the art. This book will be useful for undergraduate, master, and PhD students and young researchers from physics, multidisciplinary studies, computer science, and applied mathematics wishing to gain a serious insight into the principles of complex networks. The book can be used as a text in university courses on complex networks. It proposes to determined students not only a brief trip to the land of complex networks but an option to stay there forever.