2025/04/17 by Perez-Reche, Francisco J., Taraskin, Sergei N.
#FOS: Physical sciences #Physics and Society (physics.soc-ph)
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2504.13293
We investigate the impact of network heterogeneity on synergistic contagion dynamics. By extending a synergistic contagion model to diverse heterogeneous network topologies, we uncover the emergence of novel dynamical regimes characterized by multiple stable states, separated by a rich set of bifurcations reaching up to codimension 4. Additionally, we demonstrate how synergy fundamentally reshapes the influence of nodes based on their degree. Unlike in non-synergistic epidemics, low-degree nodes can play a pivotal role in enabling network invasion at the onset of spread, while high-degree nodes can trigger explosive contagion. These findings challenge conventional control strategies, highlighting the need for new approaches to enhance or suppress synergistic contagion.