The hierarchical product of two graphs represents a natural way to build a
larger graph out of two smaller graphs with less regular and therefore more
heterogeneous structure than the Cartesian product. Here we study the
eigenvalue spectrum of the adjacency matrix of the hierarchical product of two
graphs. Introducing a coupling parameter describing the relative contribution
of each of the two smaller graphs, we perform an asymptotic analysis for the
full spectrum of eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix of the hierarchical
product. Specifically, we derive the exact limit points for each eigenvalue in
the limits of small and large coupling, as well as the leading-order relaxation
to these values in terms of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the two smaller
graphs. Given its central roll in the structural and dynamical properties of
networks, we study in detail the Perron-Frobenius, or largest, eigenvalue.
Finally, as an example application we use our theory to predict the epidemic
threshold of the Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible model on a hierarchical
product of two graphs
