Effect of degree correlation on exact controllability of multiplex networks

• Interconnections’ correlation influences controllability of multiplex networks.
• Assortative multiplex networks are easier to control for sparse interconnections.
• Disassortative multiplex networks are easier to control for dense interconnections.
• Controllability depicts transition with density of interconnections.

It has been proved that the degree correlation can affect the structural controllability of directed networks. Here, we explore the effect of interconnections’ correlation on the exact controllability of multiplex networks. We find that the minimal number of driver nodes decreases with correlation for lower density of interconnections. However, the controllability of networks with higher density of interconnections shows the contrary tendency. For different interconnections’ correlations, controllability of multiplex networks depicts transition with the density of interconnections. For lower interconnections density, the networks with disassortative coupling patterns are harder to control. Whereas, for higher interconnections density, the networks with assortative coupling patterns are harder to control.