I am off to Frankfurt for a workshop on analog computing.
6 days ago
Monday, June 08, 2026
Sunday, May 31, 2026
What Happens in Boston Stays in Boston
I am off to Boston to speak in the satellite conference on Physical Networks at the 2026 NetSci conference. (It's my triumphant return to NetSci!) As usual, I also helped organize the satellite conference on Network Science in Education (NetSciEd 2026).
Monday, May 11, 2026
"Ginzburg–Landau Functionals in the Large-Graph Limit"
Another of my papers has appeared in final form. Here are some details.
Title: Ginzburg–Landau Functionals in the Large-Graph Limit
Authors: Edith J. Zhang, James Scott, Qiang Du, and Mason A. Porter
Abstract: Ginzburg–Landau (GL) functionals on graphs, which are relaxations of graph-cut functionals on graphs, have yielded a variety of insights in image segmentation and graph clustering. In this paper, we study large-graph limits of GL functionals by taking a functional-analytic view of graphs as nonlocal kernels. For a graph W_n with n nodes, the corresponding graph GL functional GL_ϵ^{W_n} is an energy for functions on W_n. We minimize GL functionals on sequences of growing graphs that converge to functions called graphons. For such sequences of graphs, we show that the graph GL functional Γ-converges to a continuous and nonlocal functional that we call the graphon GL functional. We investigate the sharp-interface limits of the graph GL and graphon GL functionals, and we relate these limits to a nonlocal total-variation (TV) functional. We express the limiting GL functional in terms of Young measures and thereby obtain a probabilistic interpretation of the minimization problem in the large-graph limit. Finally, to develop intuition about graphon GL functionals, we determine the GL minimizer for several example families of graphons.
Title: Ginzburg–Landau Functionals in the Large-Graph Limit
Authors: Edith J. Zhang, James Scott, Qiang Du, and Mason A. Porter
Abstract: Ginzburg–Landau (GL) functionals on graphs, which are relaxations of graph-cut functionals on graphs, have yielded a variety of insights in image segmentation and graph clustering. In this paper, we study large-graph limits of GL functionals by taking a functional-analytic view of graphs as nonlocal kernels. For a graph W_n with n nodes, the corresponding graph GL functional GL_ϵ^{W_n} is an energy for functions on W_n. We minimize GL functionals on sequences of growing graphs that converge to functions called graphons. For such sequences of graphs, we show that the graph GL functional Γ-converges to a continuous and nonlocal functional that we call the graphon GL functional. We investigate the sharp-interface limits of the graph GL and graphon GL functionals, and we relate these limits to a nonlocal total-variation (TV) functional. We express the limiting GL functional in terms of Young measures and thereby obtain a probabilistic interpretation of the minimization problem in the large-graph limit. Finally, to develop intuition about graphon GL functionals, we determine the GL minimizer for several example families of graphons.
Thursday, April 23, 2026
What Happens in Santa Fe Stays in Santa Fe
I am off to Santa Fe to visit the Santa Fe Institute for a couple of weeks!
Monday, April 13, 2026
2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 inductess. They include Joy Division/New Order, Billy Idol, Phil Collins, Oasis, and others.
Thursday, April 02, 2026
What Happens in the Bay Area Stays in the Bay Area
I am heading off to the Bay Area for a relative's bar mitzvah, with a game of Paranoia on the side. The Computer is my friend.
Thursday, March 12, 2026
"Bounded-Confidence Opinion Models with Random-Time Interactions"
One of my papers came out in final form yesterday. Here are some details.
Title: Bounded-Confidence Opinion Models with Random-Time Interactions
Authors: Weiqi Chu and Mason A. Porter
Abstract: In models of opinion dynamics, agents interact with each other and can change their opinions as a result of those interactions. One type of opinion model is a bounded-confidence model (BCM), in which opinions take continuous values and interacting agents compromise their opinions with each other if their opinions are sufficiently similar. In studies of BCMs, researchers typically assume that interactions between agents occur at deterministic times. This assumption neglects an inherent element of randomness in social interactions, and it is desirable to account for it. In this paper, we study BCMs on networks and allow agents to interact at random times. To incorporate random-time interactions, we use renewal processes to determine social-interaction event times, which can follow arbitrary interevent-time distributions (ITDs). We establish connections between these random-time-interaction BCMs and deterministic-time-interaction BCMs. We analyze the quantitative impact of ITDs on the transient dynamics of BCMs and derive approximate governing equations for the time-dependent expectations of the BCM dynamics. We find that BCMs with Markovian ITDs have consistent statistical properties (in particular, they have the same expected time-dependent opinions) when the ITDs have the same mean but that the statistical properties of BCMs with non-Markovian ITDs depend on the type of ITD even when the ITDs have the same mean. We numerically examine the transient and steady-state dynamics of our BCMs with various ITDs on different networks, and we compare their expected order-parameter values and expected convergence times.
Title: Bounded-Confidence Opinion Models with Random-Time Interactions
Authors: Weiqi Chu and Mason A. Porter
Abstract: In models of opinion dynamics, agents interact with each other and can change their opinions as a result of those interactions. One type of opinion model is a bounded-confidence model (BCM), in which opinions take continuous values and interacting agents compromise their opinions with each other if their opinions are sufficiently similar. In studies of BCMs, researchers typically assume that interactions between agents occur at deterministic times. This assumption neglects an inherent element of randomness in social interactions, and it is desirable to account for it. In this paper, we study BCMs on networks and allow agents to interact at random times. To incorporate random-time interactions, we use renewal processes to determine social-interaction event times, which can follow arbitrary interevent-time distributions (ITDs). We establish connections between these random-time-interaction BCMs and deterministic-time-interaction BCMs. We analyze the quantitative impact of ITDs on the transient dynamics of BCMs and derive approximate governing equations for the time-dependent expectations of the BCM dynamics. We find that BCMs with Markovian ITDs have consistent statistical properties (in particular, they have the same expected time-dependent opinions) when the ITDs have the same mean but that the statistical properties of BCMs with non-Markovian ITDs depend on the type of ITD even when the ITDs have the same mean. We numerically examine the transient and steady-state dynamics of our BCMs with various ITDs on different networks, and we compare their expected order-parameter values and expected convergence times.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
What Happens in Oxford Stays in Oxford
I'm off to visit Oxford (i.e., my old place) for a few days. It's always nice to come back and visit!
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones Elected to Major League Baseball Hall of Fame
Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones have been elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. They join Jeff Kent (who was elected in December by an Era Committee) in the Hall's 2026 class.
Given the very weak candidate slate this year, many returning candidates gained a lot of votes. Chase Utley, Andy Pettitte, Félix Hernández, Bobby Abreu, and others made huge gains in votes. Félix's Hernández's one-year gain is the largest such gain since the Hall of Fame returned to annual voting in 1967. The baseball writers clearly are rethinking how to evaluate Hall of Fame pitchers in the modern era. Hopefully, pitchers like Kevin Brown and Johan Santana (who got almost no support from the baseball writers when they were on the ballot) will be considered at some point by an Era Committee.
Chase Utley got almost 60% of the vote, so he may even be elected in 2027, which is faster than I was thinking. I now think that a 2028 election for Utley is most likely, whereas previously I was thinking that it would take longer. Utley has the highest voe percentage among all candidates who will be on the ballot again next year. Cole Hamels, with just more than 23% of the vote, is the only new candidate who got the requisite minimum 5% to remain on the ballot next year.
See this website and especially this website for the annual Hall of Fame vote tracker, which I use to follow writers' ballots as they make them public. The sites have been very flaky this year, but they're really great when one is able to access them.
Update: Some ESPN pundits have discussed some implications from the results of this year's Hall of Fame voting.
Update: Here's a nice recap of the voting results by Jay Jaffe.
Update (1/22/26): Jay Jaffe has written his candidate-by-candidate breakdown for the results of this year's Hall of Fame cycle.
Update (1/26/26): Jay Jaffe has written his 5-year prognostication for upcoming Hall of Fame ballots.
Given the very weak candidate slate this year, many returning candidates gained a lot of votes. Chase Utley, Andy Pettitte, Félix Hernández, Bobby Abreu, and others made huge gains in votes. Félix's Hernández's one-year gain is the largest such gain since the Hall of Fame returned to annual voting in 1967. The baseball writers clearly are rethinking how to evaluate Hall of Fame pitchers in the modern era. Hopefully, pitchers like Kevin Brown and Johan Santana (who got almost no support from the baseball writers when they were on the ballot) will be considered at some point by an Era Committee.
Chase Utley got almost 60% of the vote, so he may even be elected in 2027, which is faster than I was thinking. I now think that a 2028 election for Utley is most likely, whereas previously I was thinking that it would take longer. Utley has the highest voe percentage among all candidates who will be on the ballot again next year. Cole Hamels, with just more than 23% of the vote, is the only new candidate who got the requisite minimum 5% to remain on the ballot next year.
See this website and especially this website for the annual Hall of Fame vote tracker, which I use to follow writers' ballots as they make them public. The sites have been very flaky this year, but they're really great when one is able to access them.
Update: Some ESPN pundits have discussed some implications from the results of this year's Hall of Fame voting.
Update: Here's a nice recap of the voting results by Jay Jaffe.
Update (1/22/26): Jay Jaffe has written his candidate-by-candidate breakdown for the results of this year's Hall of Fame cycle.
Update (1/26/26): Jay Jaffe has written his 5-year prognostication for upcoming Hall of Fame ballots.
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Dodgers Sign Kyle Tucker to 4-Year Deal!
The Dodgers have struck again! We have signed top free agent Kyle Tucker to a 4-year deal. The Dodgers are the Evil Empire, and I love it!
It's important that this is a shorter-term contract, as Tucker is a bit too fragile to go beyond 4 years.
It's important that this is a shorter-term contract, as Tucker is a bit too fragile to go beyond 4 years.
Saturday, December 13, 2025
RIP Erik Bollt (1967–2025)
My collaborator Erik Bollt died suddenly and unexpectedly last Sunday (the 7th). Erik is a well-known applied mathematician, and he was especially in the applied dynamical-systems community. Erik and I wrote two papers together, including our paper on mathematically modeling cow synchronization.
You can read about Erik's research on his web page and his Google Scholar page.
There will be a memorial article at some point.
You can read about Erik's research on his web page and his Google Scholar page.
There will be a memorial article at some point.
Sunday, December 07, 2025
Jeff Kent Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame!
Second baseman Jeff Kent has been elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame by the Era Committee (which is the current version of the Veterans Committee. I am pleased that Kent is finally in the Hall.
Carlos Delgado did surprisingly well in the voting, so it sounds like he'll eventually make the Hall of Fame. Notably, Dale Murphy and Don Mattingly did not get enough votes (despite the fact that the Powers That Be seem to want them to be selected), and I agree that they should not be elected. Finally, I hope that Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens eventually make the Hall of Fame, but I won't be holding my breath (especially for the latter two).
Carlos Delgado did surprisingly well in the voting, so it sounds like he'll eventually make the Hall of Fame. Notably, Dale Murphy and Don Mattingly did not get enough votes (despite the fact that the Powers That Be seem to want them to be selected), and I agree that they should not be elected. Finally, I hope that Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens eventually make the Hall of Fame, but I won't be holding my breath (especially for the latter two).
Monday, December 01, 2025
"Clustering-Induced Localization of Quantum Walks on Networks"
One of my papers came out in published form today. Here are some details.
Title: Clustering-Induced Localization of Quantum Walks on Networks
Authors: Lucas Böttcher and Mason A. Porter
Title: Clustering-Induced Localization of Quantum Walks on Networks
Authors: Lucas Böttcher and Mason A. Porter
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Some Other 2025 MLB Awards
Major League Baseball announced various other awards (such as the Comeback Players of the Year) today.
2025 MLB Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards
Major League Baseball announced it's 2025 Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards today, and here too there were no surprises.
In the American League, Aaron Judge of the Yankees win his 3rd MVP award in a close vote over Mariners' catcher Cal Raleigh. In the National League, Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers won his 4th MVP. This was also Ohtani's 4th unanimous MVP award, and nobody else in MLB history (or in any of the four major US professional sports) has won more than a single unanimous MVP award. In MLB history, Ohtani's four MVP awards is second all time to Barry Bonds' seven MVP awards. Ohtani's four MVP awards have come in a 5-year span, which David Schoenfield recently compared to other all-time 5-year spans in baseball history.
2025 also marks the first time in MLB history that both AL and NL MVP awards were repeat winners from the previous year.
You can see the full MVP voting on this page.
In the American League, Aaron Judge of the Yankees win his 3rd MVP award in a close vote over Mariners' catcher Cal Raleigh. In the National League, Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers won his 4th MVP. This was also Ohtani's 4th unanimous MVP award, and nobody else in MLB history (or in any of the four major US professional sports) has won more than a single unanimous MVP award. In MLB history, Ohtani's four MVP awards is second all time to Barry Bonds' seven MVP awards. Ohtani's four MVP awards have come in a 5-year span, which David Schoenfield recently compared to other all-time 5-year spans in baseball history.
2025 also marks the first time in MLB history that both AL and NL MVP awards were repeat winners from the previous year.
You can see the full MVP voting on this page.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
2025 MLB Cy Young Award Winners
Major League Baseball has announced its 2025 Cy Young Award winners, and again there are no surprises. Tarik Skubal beat out Garret Crochet in the American League (and did so slightly more handily than I was expecting) for his second consecutive Cy Young award, and Paul Skenes was a unanimous selection in the National League (with Christopher Sánchez receiving all 2nd-place votes and Yoshinobu Yamamoto finishing in 3rd).
You can see the full voting results on this page.
You can see the full voting results on this page.
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
2025 MLB Managers of the Year
Baseball's 2025 Managers of the Year were announced today, and both winners are repeat winners from last year.
Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians won the American League Manager of the year award for the 2nd year in a row, and Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers accomplished the same feat in the National League.
You can see the vote totals for every manager that received a vote on this page
Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians won the American League Manager of the year award for the 2nd year in a row, and Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers accomplished the same feat in the National League.
You can see the vote totals for every manager that received a vote on this page
Monday, November 10, 2025
2025 MLB Rookies of the Year
Major League Baseball announced its 2025 Rookies of the Year today, and the results in both leagues were the expected ones. Namely, Nick Kurtz of the (West Sacramento) Athletics unanimously (as expected) won the American League Rookie of the Year award, and Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves won the National League Rookie of the Year award.
Friday, November 07, 2025
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