Entropic determination of the phase transition in a coevolving opinion-formation model
Abstract
We study an opinion formation model by the means of a coevolving complex network where the vertices represent the individuals, characterized by their evolving opinions, and the edges represent the interactions among them. The network adapts to the spreading of opinions in two ways: not only connected agents interact and eventually change their thinking but an agent may also rewire one of its links to a neighborhood holding the same opinion as his. The dynamics, based on a global majority rule, depends on an external parameter that controls the plasticity of the network. We show how the information entropy associated to the distribution of group sizes allows us to locate the phase transition between a phase of full consensus and another, where different opinions coexist. We also determine the minimum size of the most informative sampling. At the transition the distribution of the sizes of groups holding the same opinion is scale free.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review E
- Pub Date:
- March 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevE.91.032808
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1405.7811
- Bibcode:
- 2015PhRvE..91c2808B
- Keywords:
-
- 89.75.Fb;
- 05.90.+m;
- 05.65.+b;
- 02.60.-x;
- Structures and organization in complex systems;
- Other topics in statistical physics thermodynamics and nonlinear dynamical systems;
- Self-organized systems;
- Numerical approximation and analysis;
- Physics - Physics and Society;
- Computer Science - Social and Information Networks;
- 46N55
- E-Print:
- 7 pages, 6 figures