A Method Inspired by One-Dimensional Discrete-Time Quantum Walks for Influential Node Identification

Identifying influential nodes in complex networks is essential for a wide range of applications, from social network analysis to enhancing infrastructure resilience. While quantum walk-based methods offer potential advantages, existing approaches face challenges in dimensionality, computational effi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wen Liang, Yifan Wang, Qiwei Liu, Wenbo Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Entropy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/27/6/634
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Identifying influential nodes in complex networks is essential for a wide range of applications, from social network analysis to enhancing infrastructure resilience. While quantum walk-based methods offer potential advantages, existing approaches face challenges in dimensionality, computational efficiency, and accuracy. To address these limitations, this study proposes a novel method inspired by the one-dimensional discrete-time quantum walk (IOQW). This design enables the development of a simplified shift operator that leverages both self-loops and the network’s structural connectivity. Furthermore, degree centrality and path-based features are integrated into the coin operator, enhancing the accuracy and scalability of the IOQW framework. Comparative evaluations against state-of-the-art quantum and classical methods demonstrate that IOQW excels in capturing both local and global topological properties while maintaining a low computational complexity of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>O</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>N</mi><mo>⟨</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>⟩</mo><mo>)</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, where <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>⟨</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>⟩</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> denotes the average degree. These advancements establish IOQW as a powerful and practical tool for influential node identification in complex networks, bridging quantum-inspired techniques with real-world network science applications.
ISSN:1099-4300