Universal features of exit probability in opinion dynamics models with domain size dependent dynamics (1403.2199v2)

Abstract: We study the exit probability for several binary opinion dynamics models in one dimension in which the opinion state (represented by $\pm 1$) of an agent is determined by dynamical rules dependent on the size of its neighbouring domains. In all these models, we find the exit probability behaves like a step function in the thermodynamic limit. In a finite system of size $L$, the exit probability $E(x)$ as a function of the initial fraction $x$ of one type of opinion is given by $E(x) = f[(x-x_c)L^{1/\nu}]$ with a universal value of $\nu = 2.5 \pm 0.03$. The form of the scaling function is also universal: $f(y) = [\tanh(\lambda y +c) +1]/2$, where $\lambda$ is found to be dependent on the particular dynamics. The variation of $\lambda$ against the parameters of the models is studied. $c$ is non-zero only when the dynamical rule distinguishes between $\pm 1$ states; comparison with theoretical estimates in this case shows very good agreement.