Open AccessFocus on multilayer networks
Author(s) -
Yamir Moreno,
Matjaž Perc
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
new journal of physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.584
H-Index - 190
ISSN - 1367-2630
DOI - 10.1088/1367-2630/ab4fcb
Subject(s) - gridlock , physics , focus (optics) , interdependence , relevance (law) , field (mathematics) , interdependent networks , network science , engineering physics , nanotechnology , complex network , computer science , political science , law , optics , politics , world wide web , pure mathematics , materials science , mathematics
Multilayer networks have in recent years emerged as an important new paradigm of network science. Groundbreaking research has shown that processes that unfold on different but interdependent network layers can not be simply reduced to a conglomerate of additive processes on a single network. On the contrary, small and seemingly unimportant changes in one network layer can have far-reaching and indeed catastrophic consequences in other network layers. Such cascades of failures can lead to concurrent malfunctions in electrical power grids, they can gridlock traffic, and accelerate epidemics, to name just some examples. In the light of this functional relevance, network science has had to redefine structural measures, rethink growth processes, and come up with new mathematical formulations for multilayer networks. The field is still very much alight and vibrant, and with the focus on multilayer networks, the New Journal of Physics has given due space to the forefront research along these lines.