Search arXivSearch

arXiv · 2312.16722

Spatial Dynamics of Higher Order Rock-Paper-Scissors and Generalisations

Abstract

We introduce and study the spatial replicator equation with higher order interactions and both infinite (spatially homogeneous) populations and finite (spatially inhomogeneous) populations. We show that in the special case of three strategies (rock-paper-scissors) higher order interaction terms allow travelling waves to emerge in non-declining finite populations. We show that these travelling waves arise from diffusion stabilisation of an unstable interior equilibrium point that is present in the aspatial dynamics. Based on these observations and prior results, we offer two conjectures whose proofs would fully generalise our results to all odd cyclic games, both with and without higher order interactions, assuming a spatial replicator dynamic. Intriguingly, these generalisations for $N \geq 5$ strategies seem to require declining populations, as we show in our discussion.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Christopher Griffin, Li Feng, Rongling Wu. 2023-12-27. Spatial Dynamics of Higher Order Rock-Paper-Scissors and Generalisations. https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.16722

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Routes to chaos in a mass-conserving two-species reaction-diffusion model

Mass-conserving reaction-diffusion systems with two species correspond to a seemingly simple case where pattern formation occurs under the influence of a conservation law. Here, we first revisit their linear stability behavior and point out that generically two instabilities can occur: a stationary large-scale mass-conserving (Cahn-Hilliard) instability and an instability that combines features of a stationary large-scale non-mass-conserving (Allen-Cahn) instability and a oscillatory large-scale mass-conserving (conserved-Hopf) instability. We term it an Allen-Cahn-Hopf instability. Second, we investigate the nonlinear dynamics for a specific model related to the formation of cell polarization where only a Cahn-Hilliard instability can occur, i.e., all primary bifurcations are stationary. We analyze how secondary and further bifurcations subsequently give rise to various oscillatory states. The emerging rich spectrum of spatiotemporal behavior includes several period-doubling cascades related to different forms of spatial and temporal symmetry breaking. Beside regular states, three types of low-dimensional spatiotemporal chaos occur and involve transitions like fusion and an outer crises. Our results demonstrate the importance of nonlinear interactions in the dynamics of mass-conserving reaction-diffusion systems, and show that even a simple two-species system with primary bifurcations of Cahn-Hilliard type can show complex spatiotemporal behavior.

nlin.PS

Duck hunting with quantum mechanics

We bridge two sides of singular perturbation theory: the classical theory of slow-fast systems and the semi-classical approach to quantum mechanical systems. For a specific but physically important class of dynamical systems, we show that purely classical and exotic objects, so-called canard solutions, are shadows of instantons in the corresponding quantum system. We demonstrate that canard solutions exist in a domain of parameter space whose boundaries are determined by an instanton action. We illustrate our statements analytically for the relevant example, the overdamped Josephson junction, and confirm them numerically. For the Josephson junction, the canard window is the exponentially narrow gap between consecutive Shapiro steps.

nlin.PS