Leonard Euler’s ingenious approach to the conundrum which surrounded the seven bridges of Königsberg provided us not only with the definite solution to this intriguing problem, but also planted the seed from which the mathematical field of graph theory germinated. Although Euler’s now-historic negative resolution ended the tedious explorative search for a viable path through the city by inspired inhabitants and visitors of this Prussian town, this brute-force approach certainly merits further investigation in light of many modern-day problems which rely on such an approach due to the lack of better options. Is it possible to formulate this active exploration of the network of Königsberg’s bridges in mathematical terms? The affirmative answer to this question leads us to another field of mathematics, operator theory. This chapter will provide a coarse introduction into the very basics of operator calculus, the algebraic tool utilised to describe operations on and mappings between finite vector spaces. The application of this formalism to graph-theoretical objects will then establish the conceptual framework for Operator Graph Theory, the central objective of this book.

What do the bridges of Königsberg, synaptically connected neurons in our brains and the galaxies illuminating the dark voids of our universe have in common? All of these real-world phenomena can be described as collections of discrete discernible objects which are interlinked to form weblike structures called networks. This chapter will introduce the mathematical representation of such networks, and familiarise us with the basic concepts, ideas and terminology of a vast and ever-growing research field whose roots date back to the work of Leonard Euler. By taking a closer look at a number of concrete network models - specifically the random graph models which prominently feature as descriptive vessels for many natural phenomena - and briefly exploring some deep-rooted conceptual limitations of these models, we hope not only to motivate the need for a rigorous mathematical framework for the study of networks at finite scales, but also to accentuate the potential advantages of a more dynamical vantage point from which to view networks and their defining characteristics in later chapters of this book.

Over the course of three centuries, the field of graph theory has matured from its initial conception as an abstract model for solving a rather specific mathematical problem into a powerful vessel for describing countless real-world phenomena, with applications now reaching far beyond applied mathematics. However, its static formalisation puts a number of limitations in place which hamper an advantageous utilisation of graph-theoretical concepts in circumstances which require a more dynamical perspective. Is it possible to overcome these limitations by challenging the classical notion of a graph? In this chapter, we will propose exactly such a challenge by considering a graph’s nodes and their relations as the result of operations performed on a set of suitable objects. This subtle yet consequential change in the conception of a graph not only delivers a more dynamic vantage point, but eventually generalises the very notion of a graph by structurally equating it with an abstract algebra. This chapter will introduce the basic notions and formalisations of an operator graph-theoretical framework and candidly argue for its potential merits and usefulness.

When thinking of city maps, we instinctively envision a network of links along which an ever-changing flow of traffic is carried. Such an idealised description, however, is not limited to the maps we are all familiar with. From the interactions between atoms and subatomic particles to the gravitational forces which act between the billions of galaxies stretching across the known universe, from the transmission of electrical signals in our brains to the complexity of social interactions between people, most if not all phenomena we encounter, consciously or not, find a natural representation in the form of networks. Indeed, it can be argued that the abstract notion of interacting objects resides at the very heart of our conceptual understanding of nature as it touches upon the very fabric of physical reality with its finite and discrete makeup. How can we leverage the mathematical study of interconnected objects, the theory of networks and graphs, in our quest of understanding nature, and what are its limitations?

On our adventurous journey, we formalised in the previous chapter the generation of various finite random graph models in terms of suitable algebraic objects and obtained representations of these models which reside beyond their classical or algorithmic descriptions. This approach naturally paves the way for a more rigorous investigation of the vast plethora of graph-theoretical measures that typically are, or only can be, considered in tedious and demanding numerical studies, or under stringent limitations in asymptotic assessments. In this chapter, we will exemplify how the properties of the algebraic objects governing the generation of graphs can be exploited, and how parametrised expressions for a variety of graph measures can be obtained. Here we must restrict our gaze into the sheer limitless realm of possibilities to a few selected directions. By highlighting some of the differences to already available results from a conceptual and mathematical vantage point, we will continue to argue for the necessity of a study of networks at finite scales, for which our operator graph-theoretical framework presents itself as one viable approach.