Citations optimal growth path: A tool to analyze sensitivity to citations of h-like indexes

The h-index is a citation-based metric with extensive applications, and several variants have been developed to complement it. This study formulates the optimal growth path (OGP) models of selected h-like indexes, that is, h-index, g-index, A-index, R-index, e-index, analyzes their OGP-allocated strategies citations. It argued OGP useful tool for analyzing sensitivity these indexes Through simulation experiments both real random data, citations compared. Interestingly, it found performs worst according OGP. Further, shown combining A-index decreases h-index. In summary, this provides new insights into how evaluate scientific outputs based on indexes.