Systems poised to criticality through Pareto selective forces

Luís F Seoane, Ricard Solé

Published 2015-10-29Version 1

Pareto selective forces optimise several targets at the same time, instead of single fitness functions. Systems subjected to these forces evolve towards their Pareto front, a geometrical object akin to the thermodynamical Gibbs surface and whose shape and differential geometry underlie the existence of phase transitions. In this paper we outline the connection of the Pareto front with criticality and critical phase transitions. It is shown how, under definite circumstances, Pareto selective forces drive a system towards a critical ensemble that separates the two phases of a first order phase transition. Different mechanisms implementing such Pareto selective dynamics are revised.