Percolation theory

In statistical physics and mathematics, percolation theory describes the behavior of a network when nodes or links are removed. This is a type of phase transition, since at a critical fraction of removal the network breaks into connected clusters. The applications of percolation theory to materials science and in many other disciplines are discussed here and in the articles network theory and percolation.

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Introduction
A three-dimensional site percolation graph
Bond percolation in a square lattice from p=0.3 to p=0.52

The Flory–Stockmayer theory was the first theory investigating percolation processes.[1]

A representative question (and the source of the name) is as follows. Assume that some liquid is poured on top of some porous material. Will the liquid be able to make its way from hole to hole and reach the bottom? This physical question is modelled mathematically as a three-dimensional network of n × n × n vertices, usually called "sites", in which the edge or "bonds" between each two neighbors may be open (allowing the liquid through) with probability p, or closed with probability 1 – p, and they are assumed to be independent. Therefore, for a given p, what is the probability that an open path (meaning a path, each of whose links is an "open" bond) exists from the top to the bottom? The behavior for large n is of primary interest. This problem, called now bond percolation, was introduced in the mathematics literature by Broadbent & Hammersley (1957),[2] and has been studied intensively by mathematicians and physicists since then.

In a slightly different mathematical model for obtaining a random graph, a site is "occupied" with probability p or "empty" (in which case its edges are removed) with probability 1 – p; the corresponding problem is called site percolation. The question is the same: for a given p, what is the probability that a path exists between top and bottom? Similarly, one can ask, given a connected graph at what fraction 1 – p of failures the graph will become disconnected (no large component).

A 3D tube network percolation determination

The same questions can be asked for any lattice dimension. As is quite typical, it is actually easier to examine infinite networks than just large ones. In this case the corresponding question is: does an infinite open cluster exist? That is, is there a path of connected points of infinite length "through" the network? By Kolmogorov's zero–one law, for any given p, the probability that an infinite cluster exists is either zero or one. Since this probability is an increasing function of p (proof via coupling argument), there must be a critical p (denoted by pc) below which the probability is always 0 and above which the probability is always 1. In practice, this criticality is very easy to observe. Even for n as small as 100, the probability of an open path from the top to the bottom increases sharply from very close to zero to very close to one in a short span of values of p.

Detail of a bond percolation on the square lattice in two dimensions with percolation probability p = 0.51

For most infinite lattice graphs, pc cannot be calculated exactly, though in some cases pc there is an exact value. For example:

  • for the square lattice ℤ2 in two dimensions, pc = 1/2 for bond percolation, a fact which was an open question for more than 20 years and was finally resolved by Harry Kesten in the early 1980s,[3] see Kesten (1982). For site percolation, the value of pc is not known analyticity but only via simulations of large lattices.[4]  
  • A limit case for lattices in many dimensions is given by the Bethe lattice, whose threshold is at pc = 1/z − 1 for a coordination number z. In other words: for the regular tree of degree , is equal to .
  • For random Erdős–Rényi networks of average degree , pc = 1/<k>.[5][6][7]

Universality

The universality principle states that the numerical value of pc is determined by the local structure of the graph, whereas the behavior near the critical threshold, pc, is characterized by universal critical exponents. For example the distribution of the size of clusters at criticality decays as a power law with the same exponents for all 2d lattices. This universality means that for a given dimension, the various critical exponents, the fractal dimension of the clusters at pc is independent of the lattice type and percolation type (e.g., bond or site). However, recently percolation has been performed on a weighted planar stochastic lattice (WPSL) and found that although the dimension of the WPSL coincides with the dimension of the space where it is embedded, its universality class is different from that of all the known planar lattices.[8][9]

Phases

Subcritical and supercritical

The main fact in the subcritical phase is "exponential decay". That is, when p < pc, the probability that a specific point (for example, the origin) is contained in an open cluster (meaning a maximal connected set of "open" edges of the graph) of size r decays to zero exponentially in r. This was proved for percolation in three and more dimensions by Menshikov (1986) and independently by Aizenman & Barsky (1987). In two dimensions, it formed part of Kesten's proof that pc = 1/2.[10]

The dual graph of the square lattice ℤ2 is also the square lattice. It follows that, in two dimensions, the supercritical phase is dual to a subcritical percolation process. This provides essentially full information about the supercritical model with d = 2. The main result for the supercritical phase in three and more dimensions is that, for sufficiently large N, there is an infinite open cluster in the two-dimensional slab ℤ2 × [0, N]d − 2. This was proved by Grimmett & Marstrand (1990).[11]

In two dimensions with p < 1/2, there is with probability one a unique infinite closed cluster (a closed cluster is a maximal connected set of "closed" edges of the graph). Thus the subcritical phase may be described as finite open islands in an infinite closed ocean. When p > 1/2 just the opposite occurs, with finite closed islands in an infinite open ocean. The picture is more complicated when d ≥ 3 since pc < 1/2, and there is coexistence of infinite open and closed clusters for p between pc and 1 − pc. For the phase transition nature of percolation see Stauffer and Aharony[12] and Bunde and Havlin[13] . For percolation of networks see Cohen and Havlin.[14]

Critical
Zoom in a critical percolation cluster (Click to animate)

Percolation has a singularity at the critical point p = pc and many properties behave as a of power-law with , near . Scaling theory predicts the existence of critical exponents, depending on the number d of dimensions, that determine the class of the singularity. When d = 2 these predictions are backed up by arguments from conformal field theory and Schramm–Loewner evolution, and include predicted numerical values for the exponents. The values of the exponent are given in [12][13]. Most of these predictions are conjectural except when the number d of dimensions satisfies either d = 2 or d ≥ 19. They include:

  • There are no infinite clusters (open or closed)
  • The probability that there is an open path from some fixed point (say the origin) to a distance of r decreases polynomially, i.e. is on the order of rα for some α
    • α does not depend on the particular lattice chosen, or on other local parameters. It depends only on the dimension d (this is an instance of the universality principle).
    • αd decreases from d = 2 until d = 6 and then stays fixed.
    • α2 = −5/48
    • α6 = −1.
  • The shape of a large cluster in two dimensions is conformally invariant.

See Grimmett (1999).[15] In 11 or more dimensions, these facts are largely proved using a technique known as the lace expansion. It is believed that a version of the lace expansion should be valid for 7 or more dimensions, perhaps with implications also for the threshold case of 6 dimensions. The connection of percolation to the lace expansion is found in Hara & Slade (1990).[16]

In two dimensions, the first fact ("no percolation in the critical phase") is proved for many lattices, using duality. Substantial progress has been made on two-dimensional percolation through the conjecture of Oded Schramm that the scaling limit of a large cluster may be described in terms of a Schramm–Loewner evolution. This conjecture was proved by Smirnov (2001)[17] in the special case of site percolation on the triangular lattice.

Different models
  • Directed percolation that models the effect of gravitational forces acting on the liquid was also introduced in Broadbent & Hammersley (1957),[2] and has connections with the contact process.
  • The first model studied was Bernoulli percolation. In this model all bonds are independent. This model is called bond percolation by physicists.
  • A generalization was next introduced as the Fortuin–Kasteleyn random cluster model, which has many connections with the Ising model and other Potts models.
  • Bernoulli (bond) percolation on complete graphs is an example of a random graph. The critical probability is p = 1/N, where N is the number of vertices (sites) of the graph.
  • Bootstrap percolation removes active cells from clusters when they have too few active neighbors, and looks at the connectivity of the remaining cells.[18]
  • First passage percolation.
  • Invasion percolation.
  • Percolation with dependency links was introduced by Parshani et al.[19]
  • Percolation and opinion spreading model.[20]
  • Percolation under localized attack was introduced by Berezin et al.[21] See also Shao et al.[22]
  • Percolation of traffic in cities was introduced by Daqing Li et al.[23]
  • Introducing recovery of nodes and links in percolation.[24]
  • Percolation in 2d with a characteristic link length.[25] This percolation show a novel phenomena of critical stretching phenomena near critical percolation.[26] 
  • A generalized percolation model that introduces a fraction of reinforced nodes in a network that can function and support their neighborhood was introduced by Yanqing Hu et al.[27]

Applications

In biology, biochemistry (physical virology), and nanomedicine

Percolation theory has been used to successfully predict the fragmentation of biological virus shells (capsids) [28], with the percolation threshold of Hepatitis B virus capsid predicted and detected experimentally. [29] When a critical number of subunits has been randomly removed from the nanoscopic shell, it fragments and this fragmentation may be detected using Charge Detection Mass Spectroscopy (CDMS) among other single-particle techniques. This is a molecular analog to the common board game Jenga, and has relevance to virus disassembly.

In ecology

Percolation theory has been applied to studies of how environment fragmentation impacts animal habitats[30] and models of how the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis spreads.[31]

See also

References
  1. Sahini, M.; Sahimi, M. (2003-07-13). Applications Of Percolation Theory. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-203-22153-2.
  2. Broadbent, S. R.; Hammersley, J. M. (2008). "Percolation processes". Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. 53 (3): 629. Bibcode:1957PCPS...53..629B. doi:10.1017/S0305004100032680. ISSN 0305-0041.
  3. Bollobás, Béla; Riordan, Oliver (2006). "Sharp thresholds and percolation in the plane". Random Structures and Algorithms. 29 (4): 524–548. arXiv:math/0412510. doi:10.1002/rsa.20134. ISSN 1042-9832.
  4. MEJ Newman, RM Ziff (2000). "Efficient Monte Carlo algorithm and high-precision results for percolation". Physical Review Letters. 19 (85): 4104.
  5. Erdős, P. & Rényi, A. (1959). "On random graphs I.". Publ. Math. (6): 290–297.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Erdős, P. & Rényi, A. (1960). "The evolution of random graphs". Publ. Math. Inst. Hung. Acad. Sci. (5): 17–61.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. Bolloba´s, B. (1985). "Random Graphs". Academic.
  8. Hassan, M. K.; Rahman, M. M. (2015). "Percolation on a multifractal scale-free planar stochastic lattice and its universality class". Phys. Rev. E. 92 (4): 040101. arXiv:1504.06389. Bibcode:2015PhRvE..92d0101H. doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.92.040101. PMID 26565145.
  9. Hassan, M. K.; Rahman, M. M. (2016). "Universality class of site and bond percolation on multi-multifractal scale-free planar stochastic lattice". Phys. Rev. E. 94 (4): 042109. arXiv:1604.08699. Bibcode:2016PhRvE..94d2109H. doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.94.042109. PMID 27841467.
  10. Kesten, Harry (1982). Percolation Theory for Mathematicians. doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-2730-9. ISBN 978-0-8176-3107-9.
  11. Grimmett, G. R.; Marstrand, J. M. (1990). "The Supercritical Phase of Percolation is Well Behaved". Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 430 (1879): 439–457. Bibcode:1990RSPSA.430..439G. doi:10.1098/rspa.1990.0100. ISSN 1364-5021.
  12. Stauffer, Dietrich; Aharony, Anthony (1944). "Introduction to Percolation Theory". Publ. Math. (6): 290–297. ISBN 978-0-7484-0253-3.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. Bunde A. and Havlin S. (1966). "Fractals and Disordered Systems". Springer.
  14. Cohen R. and Havlin S. (2010). "Complex Networks: Structure, Robustness and Function". Cambridge University Press.
  15. Grimmett, Geoffrey (1999). Percolation. Grundlehren der mathematischen Wissenschaften. 321. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-03981-6. ISBN 978-3-642-08442-3. ISSN 0072-7830.
  16. Hara, Takashi; Slade, Gordon (1990). "Mean-field critical behaviour for percolation in high dimensions". Communications in Mathematical Physics. 128 (2): 333–391. Bibcode:1990CMaPh.128..333H. doi:10.1007/BF02108785. ISSN 0010-3616.
  17. Smirnov, Stanislav (2001). "Critical percolation in the plane: conformal invariance, Cardy's formula, scaling limits". Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, Série I. 333 (3): 239–244. arXiv:0909.4499. Bibcode:2001CRASM.333..239S. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.246.2739. doi:10.1016/S0764-4442(01)01991-7. ISSN 0764-4442.
  18. Adler, Joan (1991), "Bootstrap percolation", Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and Its Applications, 171 (3): 453–470, Bibcode:1991PhyA..171..453A, doi:10.1016/0378-4371(91)90295-n.
  19. Parshani, R.; Buldyrev, S. V.; Havlin, S. (2010). "Critical effect of dependency groups on the function of networks". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 108 (3): 1007–1010. arXiv:1010.4498. Bibcode:2011PNAS..108.1007P. doi:10.1073/pnas.1008404108. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 3024657. PMID 21191103.
  20. Shao, Jia; Havlin, Shlomo; Stanley, H. Eugene (2009). "Dynamic Opinion Model and Invasion Percolation". Physical Review Letters. 103 (1): 018701. Bibcode:2009PhRvL.103a8701S. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.018701. ISSN 0031-9007. PMID 19659181.
  21. Berezin, Yehiel; Bashan, Amir; Danziger, Michael M.; Li, Daqing; Havlin, Shlomo (2015). "Localized attacks on spatially embedded networks with dependencies". Scientific Reports. 5 (1): 8934. Bibcode:2015NatSR...5E8934B. doi:10.1038/srep08934. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 4355725. PMID 25757572.
  22. Shao, S.; Huang, X.; Stanley, H.E.; Havlin, S. (2015). "Percolation of localized attack on complex networks". New J. Phys. 17 (2): 023049. arXiv:1412.3124. Bibcode:2015NJPh...17b3049S. doi:10.1088/1367-2630/17/2/023049.
  23. Li, Daqing; Fu, Bowen; Wang, Yunpeng; Lu, Guangquan; Berezin, Yehiel; Stanley, H. Eugene; Havlin, Shlomo (2015). "Percolation transition in dynamical traffic network with evolving critical bottlenecks". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112 (3): 669–672. Bibcode:2015PNAS..112..669L. doi:10.1073/pnas.1419185112. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 4311803. PMID 25552558.
  24. Majdandzic, Antonio; Podobnik, Boris; Buldyrev, Sergey V.; Kenett, Dror Y.; Havlin, Shlomo; Eugene Stanley, H. (2013). "Spontaneous recovery in dynamical networks". Nature Physics. 10 (1): 34–38. Bibcode:2014NatPh..10...34M. doi:10.1038/nphys2819. ISSN 1745-2473.
  25. Danziger, Michael M.; Shekhtman, Louis M.; Berezin, Yehiel; Havlin, Shlomo (2016). "The effect of spatiality on multiplex networks". EPL (Europhysics Letters). 115 (3): 36002. arXiv:1505.01688. Bibcode:2016EL....11536002D. doi:10.1209/0295-5075/115/36002. ISSN 0295-5075.
  26. Ivan Bonamassa, Bnaya Gross, Michael M Danziger, Shlomo Havlin (2019). "Critical stretching of mean-field regimes in spatial networks". Phys. Rev. Lett. 8 (123): 088301.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. Yuan, Xin; Hu, Yanqing; Stanley, H. Eugene; Havlin, Shlomo (2017-03-28). "Eradicating catastrophic collapse in interdependent networks via reinforced nodes". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 114 (13): 3311–3315. arXiv:1605.04217. Bibcode:2017PNAS..114.3311Y. doi:10.1073/pnas.1621369114. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 5380073. PMID 28289204.
  28. Brunk, N. E.; Lee, L. S.; Glazier, J. A.; Butske, W.; Zlotnick, A. (2018). "Molecular Jenga: the percolation phase transition (collapse) in virus capsids". Physical Biology. 15 (5): 056005. doi:10.1088/1478-3975/aac194. PMC 6004236. PMID 29714713.
  29. Lee, L. S.; Brunk, N.; Haywood, D. G.; Keifer, D.; Pierson, E.; Kondylis, P.; Zlotnick, A. (2017). "A molecular breadboard: Removal and replacement of subunits in a hepatitis B virus capsid". Protein Science. 26 (11): 2170–2180. doi:10.1002/pro.3265. PMC 5654856. PMID 28795465.
  30. Boswell, G. P.; Britton, N. F.; Franks, N. R. (1998-10-22). "Habitat fragmentation, percolation theory and the conservation of a keystone species". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences. 265 (1409): 1921–1925. doi:10.1098/rspb.1998.0521. ISSN 0962-8452. PMC 1689475.
  31. Davis, S.; Trapman, P.; Leirs, H.; Begon, M.; Heesterbeek, J. a. P. (2008-07-31). "The abundance threshold for plague as a critical percolation phenomenon". Nature. 454 (7204): 634–637. doi:10.1038/nature07053. hdl:1874/29683. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 18668107.

Further reading
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