A mathematical model for networks with structures in the mesoscale

Abstract

The new concept of multilevel network is introduced in order to embody some topological properties of complex systems with structures in the mesoscale, which are not completely captured by the classical models. This new model, which generalizes the hyper-network and hyper-structure models, fits perfectly with several real-life complex systems, including social and public transportation networks. We present an analysis of the structural properties of the multilevel network, including the clustering and the metric structures. Some analytical relationships amongst the efficiency and clustering coefficient of this new model and the corresponding parameters of the underlying network are obtained. Finally, some random models for multilevel networks are given to illustrate how different multilevel structures can produce similar underlying networks and therefore that the mesoscale structure should be taken into account in many applications.

Keywords:

• multilevel networks
• clustering
• efficiency
• mesoscale
• random models

2000 AMS Subject Classifications :

• 05C75
• 05C90
• 94C15
• 94C30

Acknowledgements

The authors of this work have been partially supported by the Spanish Government Project MTM2009-13848.