We introduce and solve a general model of dynamic response under externalperturbations. This model captures a wide range of systems out of equilibriumincluding Ising models of physical systems, social opinions, and populationgenetics. The distribution of states under perturbation and relaxation processreflects two regimes -- one driven by the external perturbation, and one drivenby internal ordering. These regimes parallel the disordered and ordered regimesof equilibrium physical systems driven by thermal perturbations but here areshown to be relevant for non-thermal and non-equilibrium external influences oncomplex biological and social systems. We extend our results to a wide range ofnetwork topologies by introducing an effective strength of externalperturbation by analytic mean-field approximation. Simulations show thisgeneralization is remarkably accurate for many topologies of current interestin describing real systems.
展开▼
