We return to work on contagion covered generally in Principles of Complex Sytems. Our goals are to solve for several key features of contagion processes acting on networks including determining the possibility and probability of a global spreading event and the expected final size. We work our way through some basic definitions, see the role of the giant compoent, and arrive at the ideas of critical mass components and triggering components. Generating functions help and can be used well but we'll eventually see that much can be understood with transparent physical arguments.

We have snow outside again and we try to cope with the spreading of Ugg boots.

Back of the envelope notes made during class.

2016/03/24

1:18:16