Topological similarities in electrical and hydrological drainage networks

Vishal H. Soni, Pia M. Ketisch, Juan D. Rodríguez, Alexander Shpunt, Alfred W. Hübler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Under an electric field, spherical conducting particles in a dielectric liquid assemble into a dendritic tree in order to dissipate charge. Several topological measures characterize such networks, including degree distributions, Strahler numbers, and total external pathlengths. Here, scaling laws relating these measures to the number of nodes in the system are presented and shown to match diffusion limited aggregation (DLA) structures. Experimental bifurcation and stream-length ratios in this easily reproducible laboratory experiment are found to agree with DLA simulations and Horton's laws for river networks. Certain scaling relations in transportation networks are known to originate from general features of networks. Here we find the experimental structures share properties with hydrological drainage networks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number036103
JournalJournal of Applied Physics
Volume109
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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