The maximal degree in random recursive graphs with random weights

We study a generalisation of the random recursive tree (RRT) model and its multigraph counterpart, the uniform directed acyclic graph (DAG). Here, vertices are equipped with a random vertex-weight representing initial inhomogeneities in the network, so that a new vertex connects to one of the old vertices with a probability that is proportional to their vertex-weight. We first identify the asymptotic degree distribution of a uniformly chosen vertex for a general vertex-weight distribution. For the maximal degree, we distinguish several classes that lead to different behaviour: For bounded vertex-weights we obtain results for the maximal degree that are similar to those observed for RRTs and DAGs. If the vertex-weights have unbounded support, then the maximal degree has to satisfy the right balance between having a high vertex-weight and being born early. For vertex-weights in the Fréchet maximum domain of attraction the first-order behaviour of the maximal degree is random, while for those in the Gumbel maximum domain of attraction the leading order is deterministic. Surprisingly, in the latter case, the second order is random when considering vertices in a compact window in the optimal region, while it becomes deterministic when considering all vertices.