</script> To interpret interacting particle system style models as social dynamics, suppose each pair ({i,j}) of individuals in a finite population meet at random times of arbitrary specified rates (nu_{ij}), and update their states according to some specified rule. The <i>averaging process</i> has real-valued states and the rule: upon meeting, the values (X_i(t-), X_j(t-)) are replaced by (frac{1}{2}(X_i(t-)+X_j(t-)), frac{1}{2}(X_i(t-)+X_j(t-))). It is curious this simple process has not been studied very systematically. We provide an expository account of basic facts and open problems.">
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 Probability Surveys > Vol. 9 (2012) open journal systems 


A lecture on the averaging process

David Aldous, University of California, Berkeley
Daniel Lanoue, University of California, Berkeley


Abstract
To interpret interacting particle system style models as social dynamics, suppose each pair \(\{i,j\}\) of individuals in a finite population meet at random times of arbitrary specified rates \(\nu_{ij}\), and update their states according to some specified rule. The averaging process has real-valued states and the rule: upon meeting, the values \(X_i(t-), X_j(t-)\) are replaced by \(\frac{1}{2}(X_i(t-)+X_j(t-)), \frac{1}{2}(X_i(t-)+X_j(t-))\). It is curious this simple process has not been studied very systematically. We provide an expository account of basic facts and open problems.

AMS 2000 subject classifications: Primary 60K35; secondary 60K99.

Keywords: Duality, interacting particle systems, rate of convergence, spectral gap, voter model.

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Aldous, David, Lanoue, Daniel, A lecture on the averaging process, Probability Surveys, 9, (2012), 90-102 (electronic). DOI: 10.1214/11-PS184.

References

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[8]    Levin, D. A., Peres, Y. and Wilmer, E. L. (2009), Markov Chains and Mixing Times. Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, RI. MR2466937

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[10]    Montenegro, R. and Tetali, P. (2006). Mathematical aspects of mixing times in Markov chains. Found. Trends Theor. Comput. Sci. 1 1–121. MR2341319

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