Power Laws & Scale-Free Networks

Barabási-Albert preferential attachment generates scale-free degree distributions

Generating...

Barabási-Albert model: each new node connects to m existing nodes with probability ∝ degree (preferential attachment). This produces P(k) ~ k^{-γ} with γ ≈ 3. Compare to the distribution of a pure power law with adjustable γ. Scale-free: hubs dominate, no characteristic scale, robust to random failure but vulnerable to hub attacks.