近日，荷兰乌得勒支大学的Debabrata Panja及其研究团队取得一项新进展。经过不懈努力，他们揭示复杂系统中的时效性临界。相关研究成果已于2024年6月19日在国际知名学术期刊《自然—物理学》上发表。

该研究团队深入探讨了系统功能，特别是社会技术系统的运作、经济系统的生产以及任何依赖时间表的系统，其中时间管理至关重要。研究人员引入了一个时间网络上的延迟传播模型，将延迟缓解缓冲区的大小设为控制参数。此模型揭示了时效性临界性这一新颖的临界行为模式。他们详细描述了临界点附近的波动现象，通常被称为“雪崩”，并成功确定了相应的临界指数。当此模型应用于现实世界中如生产网络等时间敏感型系统时，同样展现出了时效性临界性的特征。此外，研究人员还进一步探讨了此模型与玻璃模式耦合理论、脱钉相变以及定向聚合物问题之间可能存在的潜在联系。

据悉，在复杂系统中，外部参数通常决定系统运行的阶段，即其宏观行为。近一个世纪以来，统计物理学被广泛用于研究系统跨阶段的转换、(通用)临界指数和相关的动力学性质。

附：英文原文

Title: Timeliness criticality in complex systems

Author: Moran, Jose, Romeijnders, Matthijs, Doussal, Pierre Le, Pijpers, Frank P., Weitzel, Utz, Panja, Debabrata, Bouchaud, Jean-Philippe

Issue&Volume: 2024-06-19

Abstract: In complex systems, external parameters often determine the phase in which the system operates, that is, its macroscopic behaviour. For nearly a century, statistical physics has been used to extensively study systems’ transitions across phases, (universal) critical exponents and related dynamical properties. Here we consider the functionality of systems, particularly operations in socio-technical ones, production in economic ones and, more generally, any schedule-based system, where timing is of crucial importance. We introduce a stylized model of delay propagation on temporal networks, where the magnitude of the delay-mitigating buffer acts as a control parameter. The model exhibits timeliness criticality, a novel form of critical behaviour. We characterize fluctuations near criticality, commonly referred to as avalanches, and identify the corresponding critical exponents. The model exhibits timeliness criticality also when run on real-world temporal systems such as production networks. Additionally, we explore potential connections with the mode-coupling theory of glasses, depinning transition and directed polymer problem.

DOI: 10.1038/s41567-024-02525-w

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-024-02525-w