Phase transitions and non-equilibrium relaxation in kinetic models of opinion formation

TL;DR

This paper reviews kinetic models of opinion formation, analyzing phase transitions and non-equilibrium relaxation, providing mean field estimates, and exploring the universality and nature of these phase transitions.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive review of recent kinetic opinion models, including a generalized model, with mean field estimates and analysis of phase transition universality.

Findings

Mean field estimates for critical points with numerical support

Identification of phase transition nature via non-equilibrium relaxation

Discussion on the universality of observed phase transitions

Abstract

We review in details some recently proposed kinetic models of opinion dynamics. We discuss the several variants including a generalised model. We provide mean field estimates for the critical points, which are numerically supported with reasonable accuracy. Using non-equilibrium relaxation techniques, we also investigate the nature of phase transitions observed in these models. We study the nature of correlations as the critical points are approached, and comment on the universality of the phase transitions observed.