Physics (Internal)

Cascade Failures in Complex Systems: K-Core Percolation in Interdependent Networks Model

This event is part of the Departmental Seminars.

Examining Committee: H.E.Stanley, Shlomo Havlin, Plamen Ivanov, William Skocpol, Kevin Black

Abstract: Complex systems like financial systems, power networks, etc. exhibit cascade failures that involves an abrupt failure after a small initial shock. These cascading failures have been extensively studied using two different models: k-core percolation and interdependent networks. In this talk, I present my work combining the two models into a general model that includes both mechanisms. I also discuss the complete phase diagram of the percolation transition as we tune the average local threshold of k-core and coupling between networks. The phase diagram is very rich even for Erdos-Renyi network. The phase diagram consists of first and second order transition regions separated by two tricritical lines, which merge together enclosing a region of two-stage transition process where the giant component undergoes a first order jump followed by a continuous second order transition.