Mathematical modeling of information diffusion process based on the principles of thermal conductivity

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20535/SRIT.2308-8893.2025.3.10

Keywords:

information diffusion, heat equation modeling, partial differential equations, information propagation, temperature distribution, physical process analogy, information flow analysis, system analysis, mathematical modeling

Abstract

Information diffusion, a fundamental process underlying societal evolution and decision-making, shares intriguing analogies with thermodynamics. This paper presents a mathematical model that bridges these domains by proposing an analogy between thermodynamics and information theory. The study introduces a solved heat equation as a foundational framework to model information diffusion within societal contexts. The specified societal conditions embedded within the solved heat equation are central to this model. These conditions encapsulate the susceptibility of a society to assimilate new information, the constraints dictating the number and nature of available information sources, and the dynamics of information distribution characterized by its aggressiveness. The relationship between information diffusion and thermodynamics lies in their inherent propensity to seek equilibrium or optimal states. Leveraging this analogy, the solved heat equation becomes a potent tool to simulate the dynamics of information spread, analogous to the flow of thermal energy within physical systems. This work aims to stimulate further inquiry into the parallels between thermodynamics and information theory, presenting a theoretical framework and software implementation that open new avenues for understanding and modeling information diffusion dynamics within complex societal systems.

Author Biographies

Vadym Rets, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv

Ph.D. student at the Department of System Analysis and Decision Making Theory of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Eugene Ivokhin, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv

Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, a professor at the Department of System Analysis and Decision Making Theory of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine.

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Published

2025-09-29

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Section

Mathematical methods, models, problems and technologies for complex systems research