Hunt, F.
(2014),
The Structure of Optimal and Near Optimal Target Sets in Consensus Models, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.500-303, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=916342 (Accessed May 13, 2026)
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The Structure of Optimal and Near Optimal Target Sets in Consensus Models
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Abstract
We consider the problem of identifying a subset of nodes in a network that will enable the fastest spread of information in a decentralized environment. In a model of communication based on a random walk on an undirected graph, the optimal set over all sets of the same or smaller cardinality, minimizes the sum of the mean first arrival times to the set by walkers starting at nodes outside the set. We provide sufficient conditions for the existence of a greedoid that contains feasible optimal and near optimal sets. It may therefore be possible to search for optimal or near optimal sets by local moves in a stepwise manner to obtain near optimal sets that are better approximations than the factor (1 − 1/e) degree of optimality guaranteed by the use of the greedy algorithm.Citation
Special Publication (NIST SP) - 500-303
Report Number
500-303
NIST Pub Series
Pub Type
NIST Pubs
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Keywords
random walk on graph, network spread, consensus models
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Created December 19, 2014, Updated May 7, 2026