Steady-State Dynamics of the Forest Fire Model on Complex Networks

Abstract

Many sociological networks, as well as biological and technological ones, can be represented in terms of complex networks with a heterogeneous connectivity pattern. Dynamical processes taking place on top of them can be very much influenced by this topological fact. In this paper we consider a paradigmatic model of non-equilibrium dynamics, namely the forest fire model, whose relevance lies in its capacity to represent several epidemic processes in a general parametrization. We study the behavior of this model in complex networks by developing the corresponding heterogeneous mean-field theory and solving it in its steady state. We provide exact and approximate expressions for homogeneous networks and several instances of heterogeneous networks. A comparison of our analytical results with extensive numerical simulations allows to draw the region of the parameter space in which heterogeneous mean-field theory provides an accurate description of the dynamics, and enlights the limits of validity of the mean-field theory in situations where dynamical correlations become important.

13 pages, 9 figures

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Cited by in corpus (8)

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• Sampling methods for the quasistationary regime of epidemic processes on regular and complex networks
• Explosive spreading on complex networks: the role of synergy
• From subcritical behavior to elusive transitions in rumor models
• Phase transitions with infinitely many absorbing states in complex networks
• Comparison of theoretical approaches for epidemic processes with waning immunity in complex networks