Reviving a failed network through microscopic interventions

Hillel Sanhedrai, Jianxi Gao, Amir Bashan, Moshe Schwartz, Shlomo Havlin, Baruch Barzel*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

From mass extinction to cell death, complex networked systems often exhibit abrupt dynamic transitions between desirable and undesirable states. These transitions are often caused by topological perturbations (such as node or link removal, or decreasing link strengths). The problem is that reversing the topological damage, namely, retrieving lost nodes or links or reinforcing weakened interactions, does not guarantee spontaneous recovery to the desired functional state. Indeed, many of the relevant systems exhibit a hysteresis phenomenon, remaining in the dysfunctional state, despite reconstructing their damaged topology. To address this challenge, we develop a two-step recovery scheme: first, topological reconstruction to the point where the system can be revived and then dynamic interventions to reignite the system’s lost functionality. By applying this method to a range of nonlinear network dynamics, we identify the recoverable phase of a complex system, a state in which the system can be reignited by microscopic interventions, for instance, controlling just a single node. Mapping the boundaries of this dynamical phase, we obtain guidelines for our two-step recovery.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)338-349
Number of pages12
JournalNature Physics
Volume18
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2022

Funding

FundersFunder number
US?Israel NSF?BSF programme
US–Israel NSF
Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University Data Science Institute
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme821115
Defense Threat Reduction Agency2047488, HDTRA-1-19-1-0016
United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation2019740
ISF-NSFC3132/19, 3552/21
EU H2020953783
National Science Foundation1735505
Israel Science Foundation189/19, 499/19

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