Simplicial SIS model in scale-free uniform hypergraph

TL;DR

This paper studies the spread of contagion on scale-free hypergraphs using a simplicial SIS model, revealing different epidemic transition types and critical behaviors influenced by the network's degree distribution.

Contribution

It introduces an analysis of the simplicial SIS model on scale-free hypergraphs, extending prior work from Poisson to power-law degree distributions and characterizing epidemic transitions.

Findings

Continuous or hybrid epidemic transition depending on hub effect

Critical exponents determined analytically and numerically

Mechanism of hybrid epidemic transition discussed

Abstract

The hypergraph offers a platform to study structural properties emerging from more complicated and higher-order than pairwise interactions among constituents and dynamical behavior such as the spread of information or disease. Recently, a simplicial contagion problem was introduced and considered using a simplicial susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) model. Although recent studies have investigated random hypergraphs with a Poisson-type facet degree distribution, hypergraphs in the real world can have a power-law type of facet degree distribution. Here, we consider the SIS contagion problem on scale-free uniform hypergraphs and find that a continuous or hybrid epidemic transition occurs when the hub effect is dominant or weak, respectively. We determine the critical exponents analytically and numerically. We discuss the underlying mechanism of the hybrid epidemic transition.