Exploring Stable and Emergent Network Topologies

Many different types of networks, e.g., economic, social, computer, military and intelligent agent networks, have a fundamental property in common: they change over time. For various reasons, nodes form and terminate links, thereby rearranging the network. In this paper, we experimentally analyse a structural network mechanism by means of computer simulations. With this mechanism, nodes deliberately form and terminate links as they attempt to gain network advantage and/or an identifiable position in the network. Reiterative application of this mechanism, which only uses local network characteristics, results in emergent, stable network topologies, i.e., ring, uni/bi-polar and complete networks. The process demonstrates that local decisions can shape global network structures. Our results may be used to derive rules of thumb for designing networks.