Phase transition classes in triplet and quadruplet reaction-diffusion models

Anomalous finite-size scaling in higher-order processes with absorbing states

Here we study standard and higher-order birth-death processes on fully connected networks, within the perspective of large-deviation theory [also referred to as the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) method in some contexts]. We obtain a general expression for the leading and next-to-leading terms of the stationary probability distribution of the fraction of "active" sites as a function of parameters and network size N. We reproduce several results from the literature and, in particular, we derive all the moments of the stationary distribution for the q-susceptible-infected-susceptible (q-SIS) model, i.e., a high-order epidemic model requiring q active ("infected") sites to activate an additional one. We uncover a very rich scenario for the fluctuations of the fraction of active sites, with nontrivial finite-size-scaling properties. In particular, we show that the variance-to-mean ratio diverges at criticality for [1≤q≤3], with a maximal variability at q=2, confirming that complex-contagion processes can exhibit peculiar scaling features including wild variability. Moreover, the leading order in a large-deviation approach does not suffice to describe them: next-to-leading terms are essential to capture the intrinsic singularity at the origin of systems with absorbing states. Some possible extensions of this work are also discussed.

Critical dynamics on a large human Open Connectome network

Extended numerical simulations of threshold models have been performed on a human brain network with N=836733 connected nodes available from the Open Connectome Project. While in the case of simple threshold models a sharp discontinuous phase transition without any critical dynamics arises, variable threshold models exhibit extended power-law scaling regions. This is attributed to fact that Griffiths effects, stemming from the topological or interaction heterogeneity of the network, can become relevant if the input sensitivity of nodes is equalized. I have studied the effects of link directness, as well as the consequence of inhibitory connections. Nonuniversal power-law avalanche size and time distributions have been found with exponents agreeing with the values obtained in electrode experiments of the human brain. The dynamical critical region occurs in an extended control parameter space without the assumption of self-organized criticality.

Griffiths phases and localization in hierarchical modular networks

We study variants of hierarchical modular network models suggested by Kaiser and Hilgetag [ Front. in Neuroinform., 4 (2010) 8] to model functional brain connectivity, using extensive simulations and quenched mean-field theory (QMF), focusing on structures with a connection probability that decays exponentially with the level index. Such networks can be embedded in two-dimensional Euclidean space. We explore the dynamic behavior of the contact process (CP) and threshold models on networks of this kind, including hierarchical trees. While in the small-world networks originally proposed to model brain connectivity, the topological heterogeneities are not strong enough to induce deviations from mean-field behavior, we show that a Griffiths phase can emerge under reduced connection probabilities, approaching the percolation threshold. In this case the topological dimension of the networks is finite, and extended regions of bursty, power-law dynamics are observed. Localization in the steady state is also shown via QMF. We investigate the effects of link asymmetry and coupling disorder, and show that localization can occur even in small-world networks with high connectivity in case of link disorder.

Influence of quenched disorder on absorbing phase transitions in the conserved lattice gas model

Motivated by the Harris criterion, the absorbing phase transitions of the conserved lattice gas (CLG) model were studied on lattices with a quenched disorder, i.e., on infinite percolation networks, in two and three dimensions. The Harris criterion suggests that, in a magnetic system, the pure fixed point will be unstable if the specific-heat exponent is positive. For the CLG model, the specific-heat exponent α calculated by the hyperscaling relation α=2-dν, where ν is the spatial correlation length exponent in d dimensions, will be positive in two dimensions if the value of ν obtained earlier by Lübeck and Heger is employed. On the other hand, it will be close to 0 if the more recent value by Lee and Lee is used and it is positive in three dimensions with the available value of ν. Extensive numerical simulations showed that, when the concentration of disordered sites is less than the critical concentration, the critical exponents were similar to those on a regular lattice both in two and three dimensions. When the concentration of disordered sites becomes critical, the density of active particles showed nonuniversal power-law behavior for all particle densities considered in both dimensions. These results were in contrast to the results for the diluted contact process. The cause of such a nonuniversal behavior was addressed.

Discontinuous phase transitions of conserved threshold transfer process with deterministic hopping

The deterministic conserved threshold transfer process, which is a variant of the conserved threshold transfer process modified in a way as that hopping of a particle is to be deterministic, is proposed. The critical behavior of the model is investigated in one, two, and four dimensions. It is found that the order parameter yields a discontinuous transition; i.e., the transition appears to be first ordered in all dimensions considered. The origin of such a discontinuous transition is investigated, considering clustering of active sites and accumulation of critical sites just before the steady state is reached.

Universality split in absorbing phase transition with conserved field on fractal lattices

The universality split in absorbing phase transition between the conserved lattice gas (CLG) model and the conserved threshold transfer process (CTTP) is investigated on a checkerboard fractal and on a Sierpinski gasket. The critical exponents theta, beta, nu||, and z, which are associated with, respectively, the density of active particles in time, the order parameter, the temporal correlation length, and the dynamics of active particles, are elaborately measured for two models on selected fractal lattices. The exponents for the CLG model are found to be distinctly different from those of the CTTP model on a checkerboard fractal, whereas the two models exhibit the same critical behavior on a Sierpinski gasket, indicating that the universality split between the two models occurs only on a checkerboard fractal. Such a universality split is attributed from the dominant hopping mechanisms caused by the intrinsic properties of the underlying fractal lattice.

Phase transition of triplet reaction-diffusion models

The phase transitions classes of reaction-diffusion systems with multiparticle reactions are an open challenging problem. Large scale simulations are applied for the 3A --> 4A, 3A --> 2A and the 3A --> 4A, 3A --> [formula : see text] triplet reaction models with site occupation restriction in one dimension. Static and dynamic mean-field scaling are observed with signs of logarithmic corrections suggesting d(c) = 1 upper critical dimension for this family of models.

Role of diffusion in branching and annihilation random walk models

Different branching and annihilating random walk models are investigated by the cluster mean-field method and simulations in one and two dimensions. In the case of the A-->2A , 2A--> 0 model the cluster mean-field approximations show diffusion dependence in the phase diagram as was found recently by the nonperturbative renormalization group method [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 255703 (2004)]]. The same type of survey for the A-->2A , 4A--> 0 model results in a reentrant phase diagram, similar to that of the 2A-->3A , 4A--> 0 model [Phys. Rev. E 69, 036112 (2004)]]. Simulations of the A-->2A , 4A--> 0 model in one and two dimensions confirm the presence of both the directed percolation transitions at finite branching rates and the mean-field transition at zero branching rate. In two dimensions the directed percolation transition disappears for strong diffusion rates. These results disagree with the predictions of the perturbative renormalization group method.

Pair contact process with diffusion: failure of master equation field theory

We demonstrate that the "microscopic" field theory representation, directly derived from the corresponding master equation, fails to adequately capture the continuous nonequilibrium phase transition of the pair contact process with diffusion (PCPD). The ensuing renormalization group (RG) flow equations do not allow for a stable fixed point in the parameter region that is accessible by the physical initial conditions. There exists a stable RG fixed point outside this regime, but the resulting scaling exponents, in conjunction with the predicted particle anticorrelations at the critical point, would be in contradiction with the positivity of the equal-time mean-square particle number fluctuations. We conclude that a more coarse-grained effective field theory approach is required to elucidate the critical properties of the PCPD.

Critical behavior of the two-dimensional 2A-->3A, 4A--> phi binary system

The phase transitions of the recently introduced 2A-->3A, 4A--> phi reaction-diffusion model [G. Odor, Phys. Rev. E 69, 036112 (2004)]] are explored in two dimensions. This model exhibits site-occupation restriction and explicit diffusion of isolated particles. A reentrant phase diagram in the diffusion-creation rate space is confirmed, in agreement with cluster mean-field and one-dimensional results. For strong diffusion, a mean-field transition can be observed at zero branching rate characterized by an alpha=1/3 density decay exponent. In contrast, for weak diffusion the effective 2A-->3A-->4A--> phi reaction becomes relevant and the mean-field transition of the 2A-->3A, 2A--> phi model characterized by alpha=1/2 also appears for nonzero branching rates.

Phase transitions of the binary production 2A-->3A, 4A--> X model

Phase transitions of the 2A-->3A, 4A--> X reaction-diffusion model is explored by dynamical, N-cluster approximations and by simulations. The model exhibits site occupation restriction and explicit diffusion of isolated particles. While the site mean-field approximation shows a single transition at zero branching rate introduced by Odor [G. Odor, Phys. Rev. E 67, 056114 (2003)], N>2 cluster approximations predict the appearance of another transition line for weak diffusion (D) as well. The latter phase transition is continuous, occurs at finite branching rate, and exhibits different scaling behavior. I show that the universal behavior of these transitions is in agreement with that of the diffusive pair contact process model both on the mean-field level and in one dimension. Therefore this model exhibiting annihilation by quadruplets does not fit in the recently suggested classification of universality classes of absorbing state transitions in one dimension [J. Kockelkoren and H. Chaté, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 125701 (2003)]. For high diffusion rates the effective 2A-->3A-->4A--> X reaction becomes irrelevant and the model exhibits a mean-field transition only. The two regions are separated by a nontrivial critical end point at D*.

Universality in the pair contact process with diffusion

The pair contact process with diffusion is studied by means of multispin Monte Carlo simulations and density matrix renormalization group calculations. Effective critical exponents are found to behave nonmonotonically as functions of time or of system length and extrapolate asymptotically towards values consistent with the directed percolation universality class. We argue that an intermediate regime exists where the effective critical dynamics resembles that of a parity conserving process.