Comment on "Non-Mean-Field Behavior of the Contact Process on Scale-Free Networks"

TL;DR

This paper challenges recent claims of non-mean-field behavior in the contact process on scale-free networks by proposing a scaling theory that explains simulation data within the mean-field framework.

Contribution

It introduces a scaling theory for density fluctuations that accounts for simulation results, reaffirming the mean-field nature of the contact process on scale-free networks.

Findings

Scaling theory explains simulation data well.

Critical density decay exponent matches MF prediction.

Supports MF-type critical behavior in CP on SFNs.

Abstract

Recently, Castellano and Pastor-Satorras [1] utilized the finite size scaling (FSS) theory to analyze simulation data for the contact process (CP) on scale-free networks (SFNs) and claimed that its absorbing critical behavior is not consistent with the mean-field (MF) prediction. Furthermore, they pointed out large density fluctuations at highly connected vertices as a possible origin for non-MF critical behavior. In this Comment, we propose a scaling theory for relative density fluctuations in the spirit of the MF theory, which turns out to explain simulation data perfectly well. We also measure the value of the critical density decay exponent, which agrees well with the MF prediction. Our results strongly support that the CP on SFNs still exhibits a MF-type critical behavior.