Discrete Ricci curvatures for directed networks (Q2201465)

This is an article about application of discrete Ricci curvature to the study of directed networks. Three approaches to discretize Ricci curvature, namely, Forman-Ricci curvature, augmented Forman Ricci curvature and Ollivier-Ricci curvature are used. These are edge-centric measures and are computed for two theoretical, namely Erdős-Renyi and scale-free, and four real world models of directed networks. Detailed comparative studies and deductions based on computations are made. Using the above mentioned curvatures, various curvatures at vertices of directed network are also introduced. Further the vertex curvatures are also used to make comparative and correlation studies. The authors also investigated effects of removing directed edges on large scale connectivity of the network. They used this to show the communication efficiency in the networks under consideration.