title: Opinion formation on adaptive networks with intensive average degree.
abstract: We study the evolution of binary opinions on a simple adaptive network of N nodes. At each time step, a randomly selected node updates its state ("opinion") according to the majority opinion of the nodes that it is linked to; subsequently, all links are reassigned with probability p̃ (q̃) if they connect nodes with equal (opposite) opinions. In contrast to earlier work, we ensure that the average connectivity ("degree") of each node is independent of the system size ("intensive"), by choosing p̃ and q̃ to be of O(1/N). Using simulations and analytic arguments, we determine the final steady states and the relaxation into these states for different system sizes. We find two absorbing states, characterized by perfect consensus, and one metastable state, characterized by a population split evenly between the two opinions. The relaxation time of this state grows exponentially with the number of nodes, N. A second metastable state, found in the earlier studies, is no longer observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0435, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmittmann
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mukhopadhyay