Sparse graphs: metrics and random models

Recently, Bollob\'as, Janson and Riordan introduced a family of random graph models producing inhomogeneous graphs with $n$ vertices and $\Theta(n)$ edges whose distribution is characterized by a kernel, i.e., a symmetric measurable function $\ka:[0,1]^2 \to [0,\infty)$. To understand these mod...

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Main Authors: Bollobas, B, Riordan, O
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2008
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author Bollobas, B
Riordan, O
author_facet Bollobas, B
Riordan, O
author_sort Bollobas, B
collection OXFORD
description Recently, Bollob\'as, Janson and Riordan introduced a family of random graph models producing inhomogeneous graphs with $n$ vertices and $\Theta(n)$ edges whose distribution is characterized by a kernel, i.e., a symmetric measurable function $\ka:[0,1]^2 \to [0,\infty)$. To understand these models, we should like to know when different kernels $\ka$ give rise to `similar' graphs, and, given a real-world network, how `similar' is it to a typical graph $G(n,\ka)$ derived from a given kernel $\ka$. The analogous questions for dense graphs, with $\Theta(n^2)$ edges, are answered by recent results of Borgs, Chayes, Lov\'asz, S\'os, Szegedy and Vesztergombi, who showed that several natural metrics on graphs are equivalent, and moreover that any sequence of graphs converges in each metric to a graphon, i.e., a kernel taking values in $[0,1]$. Possible generalizations of these results to graphs with $o(n^2)$ but $\omega(n)$ edges are discussed in a companion paper [arXiv:0708.1919]; here we focus only on graphs with $\Theta(n)$ edges, which turn out to be much harder to handle. Many new phenomena occur, and there are a host of plausible metrics to consider; many of these metrics suggest new random graph models, and vice versa.
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spelling oxford-uuid:9c2208f7-7ce5-4754-a709-fcdf7833e46a2022-03-27T00:33:58ZSparse graphs: metrics and random modelsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:9c2208f7-7ce5-4754-a709-fcdf7833e46aEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2008Bollobas, BRiordan, ORecently, Bollob\'as, Janson and Riordan introduced a family of random graph models producing inhomogeneous graphs with $n$ vertices and $\Theta(n)$ edges whose distribution is characterized by a kernel, i.e., a symmetric measurable function $\ka:[0,1]^2 \to [0,\infty)$. To understand these models, we should like to know when different kernels $\ka$ give rise to `similar' graphs, and, given a real-world network, how `similar' is it to a typical graph $G(n,\ka)$ derived from a given kernel $\ka$. The analogous questions for dense graphs, with $\Theta(n^2)$ edges, are answered by recent results of Borgs, Chayes, Lov\'asz, S\'os, Szegedy and Vesztergombi, who showed that several natural metrics on graphs are equivalent, and moreover that any sequence of graphs converges in each metric to a graphon, i.e., a kernel taking values in $[0,1]$. Possible generalizations of these results to graphs with $o(n^2)$ but $\omega(n)$ edges are discussed in a companion paper [arXiv:0708.1919]; here we focus only on graphs with $\Theta(n)$ edges, which turn out to be much harder to handle. Many new phenomena occur, and there are a host of plausible metrics to consider; many of these metrics suggest new random graph models, and vice versa.
spellingShingle Bollobas, B
Riordan, O
Sparse graphs: metrics and random models
title Sparse graphs: metrics and random models
title_full Sparse graphs: metrics and random models
title_fullStr Sparse graphs: metrics and random models
title_full_unstemmed Sparse graphs: metrics and random models
title_short Sparse graphs: metrics and random models
title_sort sparse graphs metrics and random models
work_keys_str_mv AT bollobasb sparsegraphsmetricsandrandommodels
AT riordano sparsegraphsmetricsandrandommodels