From sand to networks: a study of multi-disciplinarity

Abstract

In this paper, we study empirically co-authorship networks of neighbouring scientific disciplines, and describe the system by two coupled networks. By considering a large time window, we focus on the properties of the interface between the disciplines. We also focus on the time evolution of the co-authorship network, and highlight a rich phenomenology including first order transition and cluster bouncing and merging. Finally, we present a ferro- electric-like model (CDIM), involving bond redistribution between the nodes, that reproduces qualitatively the structuring of the system in homogeneous phases