$Q$-voter model with independence on signed random graphs: homogeneous approximations

TL;DR

This paper extends the $q$-voter model to signed random graphs, analyzing phase transitions and opinion dynamics through simulations and mean field theories, revealing ferromagnetic and spin-glass-like behaviors influenced by network structure and interaction signs.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized $q$-voter model on signed networks, providing analytical approximations and numerical evidence for complex phase transitions including ferromagnetic and spin-glass-like states.

Findings

Ferromagnetic transition depends on $p$, $r$, and $q$ with possible first- or second-order nature.

Large $r$ can suppress ferromagnetic order and induce spin-glass-like transitions.

Homogeneous pair approximation improves prediction accuracy for small $r$.

Abstract

The $q$-voter model with independence is generalized to signed random graphs and studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations and theoretically using the mean field approximation and different forms of the pair approximation. In the signed network with quenched disorder, positive and negative signs associated randomly with the links correspond to reinforcing and antagonistic interactions, promoting, respectively, the same or opposite orientations of two-state spins representing agents' opinions; otherwise, the opinions are called mismatched. With probability $1-p$, the agents change their opinions if the opinions of all members of a randomly selected $q$-neighborhood are mismatched, and with probability $p$, they choose an opinion randomly. The model on networks with finite mean degree $\langle k \rangle$ and fixed fraction of the antagonistic interactions $r$ exhibits ferromagnetic transition with varying the independence parameter $p$, which can be first- or second-order, depending on $q$ and $r$, and disappears for large $r$. Besides, numerical evidence is provided for the occurrence of the spin-glass-like transition for large $r$. The order and critical lines for the ferromagnetic transition on the $p$ vs. $r$ phase diagram obtained in Monte Carlo simulations are reproduced qualitatively by the mean field approximation. Within the range of applicability of the pair approximation, for the model with $\langle k \rangle$ finite but $\langle k \rangle \gg q$, predictions of the homogeneous pair approximation concerning the ferromagnetic transition show much better quantitative agreement with numerical results for small $r$ but fail for larger $r$. A more advanced signed homogeneous pair approximation is formulated which distinguishes between classes of active links with a given sign connecting nodes occupied by agents with mismatched opinions...