A scaling limit for the degree distribution in sublinear preferential attachment schemes

We consider a general class of preferential attachment schemes evolving by a reinforcement rule with respect to certain sublinear weights. In these schemes, which grow a random network, the sequence of degree distributions is an object of interest which sheds light on the evolving structures. In this article, we use a fluid limit approach to prove a functional law of large numbers for the degree structure in this class, starting from a variety of initial conditions. The method appears robust and applies in particular to ‘non‐tree’ evolutions where cycles may develop in the network. A main part of the argument is to show that there is a unique nonnegative solution to an infinite system of coupled ODEs, corresponding to a rate formulation of the law of large numbers limit, through C₀‐semigroup/dynamical systems methods. These results also resolve a question in Chung, Handjani and Jungreis (2003). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 48, 703–731, 2016