Phase transition for the generalized two-community stochastic block model

Abstract

We study the problem of detecting the community structure from the generalized stochastic block model with two communities (G2-SBM). Based on analysis of the Stieljtes transform of the empirical spectral distribution, we prove a Baik-Ben Arous-Peche (BBP)-type transition for the largest eigenvalue of the G2-SBM. For specific models, such as a hidden community model and an unbalanced stochastic block model, we provide precise formulas for the two largest eigenvalues, establishing the gap in the BBP-type transition.