Scale-free network topology and multifractality in a weighted planar stochastic lattice

Abstract

We propose a weighted planar stochastic lattice (WPSL) formed by the random sequential partition of a plane into contiguous and non-overlapping blocks and we find that it evolves following several non-trivial conservation laws, namely σNi xin-1 yi4/n-1 is independent of time ∀n, where xi and yi are the length and width of the ith block. Its dual on the other hand, obtained by replacing each block with a node at its centre and the common border between blocks with an edge joining the two vertices, emerges as a network with a power-law degree distribution P(k) ∼ k-?, where? = 5.66 reveals scale-free coordination number disorder since P (k) also describes the fraction of blocks having k neighbours. To quantify the size disorder, we show that if the ith block is populated with pi ∼ xi3, then its distribution in the WPSL exhibits multifractality. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.