Modern networks are rarely independent, instead being coupled together with many others. Thus the failure of a small fraction of nodes in one network may lead to the complete fragmentation of a system of several interdependent networks. Here, a framework is developed for understanding the robustness of interacting networks subject to such 'cascading' failures. Surprisingly, a broader degree distribution increases the vulnerability of interdependent networks to random failure.
- Sergey V. Buldyrev
- Roni Parshani
- Shlomo Havlin
