Maximal planar scale-free Sierpinski networks with small-world effect and power-law strength-degree correlation

Abstract

Many real networks share three generic properties: they are scale-free, display a small-world effect, and show a power-law strength-degree correlation. In this paper, we propose a type of deterministically growing networks called Sierpinski networks, which are induced by the famous Sierpinski fractals and constructed in a simple iterative way. We derive analytical expressions for degree distribution, strength distribution, clustering coefficient, and strength-degree correlation, which agree well with the characterizations of various real-life networks. Moreover, we show that the introduced Sierpinski networks are maximal planar graphs.