Note: Symmetry in complex networks

  • Authors:
  • Ben D. MacArthur;Rubén J. Sánchez-García;James W. Anderson

  • Affiliations:
  • School of Mathematics, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK;Mathematisches Institut, Heinrich-Heine Universität, Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany;School of Mathematics, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

  • Venue:
  • Discrete Applied Mathematics
  • Year:
  • 2008

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Abstract

We consider the size and structure of the automorphism groups of a variety of empirical 'real-world' networks and find that, in contrast to classical random graph models, many real-world networks are richly symmetric. We construct a practical network automorphism group decomposition, relate automorphism group structure to network topology and discuss generic forms of symmetry and their origin in real-world networks. We also comment on how symmetry can affect network redundancy and robustness.