From individuals to populations: a mean field semantics for process algebra

Chris McCaig; R. Norman; C. Shankland

doi:10.1016/j.tcs.2010.09.024

From individuals to populations: a mean field semantics for process algebra

Chris McCaig, R. Norman, C. Shankland

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A new semantics in terms of mean field equations is presented for WSCCS (Weighted Synchronous Calculus of Communicating Systems). The semantics captures the average behaviour of the system over time, but without computing the entire state space, therefore avoiding the state space explosion problem. This allows easy investigation of models with large numbers of components. The new semantics is shown to be equivalent to the standard Discrete Time Markov Chain semantics of WSCCS as the number of processes tends to infinity. The method of deriving the semantics is illustrated with examples drawn from biology and from computing.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1557–1580
Number of pages	24
Journal	Theoretical Computer Science
Volume	412
Issue number	17
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcs.2010.09.024
Publication status	Published - Apr 2011

Keywords

individuals
populations
mean field semantics
process algebra

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10.1016/j.tcs.2010.09.024

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abstract = "A new semantics in terms of mean field equations is presented for WSCCS (Weighted Synchronous Calculus of Communicating Systems). The semantics captures the average behaviour of the system over time, but without computing the entire state space, therefore avoiding the state space explosion problem. This allows easy investigation of models with large numbers of components. The new semantics is shown to be equivalent to the standard Discrete Time Markov Chain semantics of WSCCS as the number of processes tends to infinity. The method of deriving the semantics is illustrated with examples drawn from biology and from computing.",

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KW - populations

KW - mean field semantics

KW - process algebra

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DO - 10.1016/j.tcs.2010.09.024

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JO - Theoretical Computer Science

JF - Theoretical Computer Science

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ER -

From individuals to populations: a mean field semantics for process algebra

Abstract

Keywords

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