Boguñá, MariánPastor-Satorras, R. (Romualdo), 1967-Díaz Guilera, AlbertArenas, Àlex2011-07-072011-07-0720041063-651Xhttps://hdl.handle.net/2445/18883We propose a class of models of social network formation based on a mathematical abstraction of the concept of social distance. Social distance attachment is represented by the tendency of peers to establish acquaintances via a decreasing function of the relative distance in a representative social space. We derive analytical results (corroborated by extensive numerical simulations), showing that the model reproduces the main statistical characteristics of real social networks: large clustering coefficient, positive degree correlations, and the emergence of a hierarchy of communities. The model is confronted with the social network formed by people that shares confidential information using the Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption algorithm, the so-called web of trust of PGP.8 p.application/pdfeng(c) American Physical Society, 2004Física matemàticaFísica mèdicaSistemes no linealsMathematical physicsMedical physicsNonlinear systemsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article519670info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess