Effect of degree correlation on the thermal transport in complex networks

Abstract

In this work, we present a complex network model to study thermal transport in the nanotube and nanowire networks, with nodes forming a random network. It is shown that the temperature distribution in complex networks can be manipulated by the degrees of two heat source nodes, and the change of network topology can induce a transition between negative (disassortative) and positive (assortative) degree correlations. A positive degree correlation (assortativity) will enhance thermal transport, in contrast to the uncorrelated networks (zero degree correlation), while a negative degree correlation (disassortativity) will weaken it. The underlying mechanisms have been analyzed, and a possible realization of the model in a nanoscale system is briefly discussed.