Eur. Phys. J. B (2015) 88: 48
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2015-50742-1

Colloquium

Towards real-world complexity: an introduction to multiplex networks

Department of Physics and Institute of Basic Science, Korea University, 136-713 Seoul, Korea

^a Present address: Department of Physics and Levich Institute, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
^b e-mail: kgoh@korea.ac.kr

Received: 23 October 2014
Received in final form: 5 January 2015
Published online: 16 February 2015

Abstract

Many real-world complex systems are best modeled by multiplex networks of interacting network layers. The multiplex network study is one of the newest and hottest themes in the statistical physics of complex networks. Pioneering studies have proven that the multiplexity has broad impact on the system’s structure and function. In this Colloquium paper, we present an organized review of the growing body of current literature on multiplex networks by categorizing existing studies broadly according to the type of layer coupling in the problem. Major recent advances in the field are surveyed and some outstanding open challenges and future perspectives will be proposed.