Condensation in preferential attachment models with location-based choice

John Haslegrave, Jonathan Jordan, Mark Yarrow

Published 2018-06-28Version 1

We introduce a new model of a preferential attachment based random graph which extends the family of models in which condensation phenomena can occur. Each vertex in our model has an associated uniform random variable which we refer to as its location. Our model evolves in discrete time by selecting $r$ vertices from the graph with replacement, with sampling probabilities proportional to their degrees plus a constant $\alpha$. A new vertex joins the network and attaches to one of these $r$ vertices according to a given probability associated to the ranking of their locations. Using stochastic approximation techniques we give conditions for the occurrence of condensation in this model, showing the existence of phase transitions in $\alpha$ below which condensation occurs. The condensation in our model differs from that in preferential attachment models with fitness in that the condensation can occur at a random location, that it can (but not necessarily) be due to a persistent hub, and that there can be more than one point of condensation.