Optimal control of complex networks with conformity behavior

TL;DR

This paper explores how conformity behavior affects the control of complex undirected networks, revealing that control becomes easier beyond a critical number of external inputs, with the critical point depending on network connectivity.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for controlling networks with conformity behavior, identifying the critical external input threshold and proposing an optimal control strategy to reduce energy requirements.

Findings

Control becomes easier beyond a critical number of external inputs.

The critical point is determined by network connectivity.

The proposed strategy reduces control energy in various networks.

Abstract

Despite the significant advances in identifying the driver nodes and energy requiring in network control, a framework that incorporates more complicated dynamics remains challenging. Here, we consider the conformity behavior into network control, showing that the control of undirected networked systems with conformity will become easier as long as the number of external inputs beyond a critical point. We find that this critical point is fundamentally determined by the network connectivity. In particular, we investigate the nodal structural characteristic in network control and propose optimal control strategy to reduce the energy requiring in controlling networked systems with conformity behavior. We examine those findings in various synthetic and real networks, confirming that they are prevailing in describing the control energy of networked systems. Our results advance the understanding of network control in practical applications.