Condensed Matter Physics, 2021, vol. 24, No. 2, 24001
DOI:10.5488/CMP.24.24001
arXiv:2106.01022
Title:
A mechanism for evolution of the physical concepts network
Author(s):
 
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V. Palchykov
(4 Collaboration & Doctoral College for the Statistical Physics of Complex Systems, Leipzig-Lorraine-Lviv-Coventry, Europe),
 
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M. Krasnytska
(Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, National Acad. Sci. of Ukraine, 79011 Lviv, Ukraine; 4 Collaboration & Doctoral College for the Statistical Physics of Complex Systems, Leipzig-Lorraine-Lviv-Coventry, Europe),
 
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O. Mryglod
(Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, National Acad. Sci. of Ukraine, 79011 Lviv, Ukraine; 4 Collaboration & Doctoral College for the Statistical Physics of Complex Systems, Leipzig-Lorraine-Lviv-Coventry, Europe),
 
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Yu. Holovatch
(Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, National Acad. Sci. of Ukraine, 79011 Lviv, Ukraine; 4 Collaboration & Doctoral College for the Statistical Physics of Complex Systems, Leipzig-Lorraine-Lviv-Coventry, Europe; Centre for Fluid and Complex Systems, Coventry University, Coventry, CV1 5FB, United Kingdom)
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We suggest an underlying mechanism that governs the growth of a network of concepts, a complex network that reflects the connections between different scientific concepts based on their co-occurrences in publications. To this end, we perform empirical analysis of a network of concepts based on the preprints in physics submitted to the arXiv.org. We calculate the network characteristics and show that they cannot follow as a result of several simple commonly used network growth models. In turn, we suggest that a simultaneous account of two factors, i.e., growth by blocks and preferential selection, gives an explanation of empirically observed properties of the concepts network. Moreover, the observed structure emerges as a synergistic effect of these both factors: each of them alone does not lead to a satisfactory picture.
Key words:
complex systems, complex networks, network of concepts, evolutionary model, preferential attachment
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