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):
  V. Palchykov (4 Collaboration & Doctoral College for the Statistical Physics of Complex Systems, Leipzig-Lorraine-Lviv-Coventry, Europe),
  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),
  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),
  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)

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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