Marco Pretti — CNR - Istituto Sistemi Complessi #
Variational approximations for stochastic dynamics on graphs#
We present different mean-field-like approximations for stochastic dynamics on graphs, within the framework of a cluster-variational approach. In analogy with its equilibrium counterpart, this approach allows one to give a unified view of various (previously known) approximation schemes, and suggests quite a systematic way to improve the level of accuracy. We compare the different approximations with Monte Carlo simulations on a recurrent (susceptible-infected-susceptible) discrete-time epidemic-spreading model on random graphs.