Enhanced robustness of single-layer networks with redundant dependencies

Dependency links in single-layer networks offer a convenient way of modeling nonlocal percolation effects in networked systems where certain pairs of nodes are only able to function together. We study the percolation properties of the weak variant of this model: Nodes with dependency neighbors may continue to function if at least one of their dependency neighbors is active. We show that this relaxation of the dependency rule allows for more robust structures and a rich variety of critical phenomena, as percolation is not determined strictly by finite dependency clusters. We study Erdos-Renyi and random scale-free networks with an underlying Erdos-Renyi network of dependency links. We identify a special cusp point above which the system is always stable, irrespective of the density of dependency links. We find continuous and discontinuous hybrid percolation transitions, separated by a tricritical point for Erdos-Renyi networks. For scale-free networks with a finite degree cutoff we observe the appearance of a critical point and corresponding double transitions in a certain range of the degree distribution exponent. We show that at a special point in the parameter space, where the critical point emerges, the giant viable cluster has the unusual critical singularity S - Sc proportional to (p - p(c))(1/4). We study the robustness of networks where connectivity degrees and dependency degrees are correlated and find that scale-free networks are able to retain their high resilience for strong enough positive correlation, i.e., when hubs are protected by greater redundancy.

Automated summary

Dependence links in single-layer networks provide a way to model nonlocal percolation effects, with nodes being able to function if at least one dependency neighbor is active. This relaxation of the dependency rule leads to more robust structures and a variety of critical phenomena. Special points are identified where systems are stable and different percolation transitions are observed for Erdos-Renyi and scale-free networks with dependency links.