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  • Open Access

Core-Periphery Detection in Multilayer Networks

Kai Bergermann*

Francesco Tudisco†

  • *Contact author: kai.bergermann@math.tu-chemnitz.de
  • †Contact author: f.tudisco@ed.ac.uk
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 087402 – Published 22 August, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/yr23-71yc

Abstract

Multilayer networks provide a powerful framework for modeling complex systems that capture different types of interactions between the same set of entities across multiple layers. Core-periphery detection involves partitioning the nodes of a network into core nodes, which are highly connected across the network, and peripheral nodes, which are densely connected to the core but sparsely connected among themselves. In this paper, we propose a new model of core-periphery structure in multilayer networks and a nonlinear spectral method that simultaneously detects the corresponding core and periphery structures of both nodes and layers in weighted and directed multilayer networks. Our method reveals novel structural insights in three empirical multilayer networks from distinct application areas: the citation network of complex network scientists, the European airlines transport network, and the world trade network.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 087402– Published 22 August, 2025
  • Received 1 January 2025
  • Accepted 8 July 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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