On symmetric sandpiles

A symmetric version of the well-known SPM model for sandpiles is introduced. We prove that the new model has fixed point dynamics. Although there might be several fixed points, a precise description of the fixed points is given. Moreover, we provide a simple closed formula for counting the number of fixed points originated by initial conditions made of a single column of grains.Comment: Will be presented at ACRI2006 conferenc

Behavior of Coupled Automata

We study the nature of statistical correlations that develop between systems of interacting self-organized critical automata (sandpiles). Numerical and analytical findings are presented describing the emergence of synchronization between sandpiles and the dependency of this synchronization on factors such as variations in coupling strength, toppling rule probabilities, symmetric versus asymmetric coupling rules, and numbers of sandpiles

The Behavior of Coupled Automata

We study the nature of statistical correlations that develop between systems of interacting self-organized critical automata (sandpiles). Numerical and analytical findings are presented describing the emergence of “synchronization” between sandpiles and the dependency of this synchronization on factors such as variations in coupling strength, toppling rule probabilities, symmetric versus asymmetric coupling rules, and numbers of sandpiles

Sandpiles and Dominos

We consider the subgroup of the abelian sandpile group of the grid graph consisting of configurations of sand that are symmetric with respect to central vertical and horizontal axes. We show that the size of this group is (i) the number of domino tilings of a corresponding weighted rectangular checkerboard; (ii) a product of special values of Chebyshev polynomials; and (iii) a double-product whose factors are sums of squares of values of trigonometric functions. We provide a new derivation of the formula due to Kasteleyn and to Temperley and Fisher for counting the number of domino tilings of a 2m x 2n rectangular checkerboard and a new way of counting the number of domino tilings of a 2m x 2n checkerboard on a M\"obius strip.Comment: 35 pages, 24 figure

Activated Random Walkers: Facts, Conjectures and Challenges

We study a particle system with hopping (random walk) dynamics on the integer lattice $\mathbb Z^d$. The particles can exist in two states, active or inactive (sleeping); only the former can hop. The dynamics conserves the number of particles; there is no limit on the number of particles at a given site. Isolated active particles fall asleep at rate $\lambda > 0$, and then remain asleep until joined by another particle at the same site. The state in which all particles are inactive is absorbing. Whether activity continues at long times depends on the relation between the particle density $\zeta$ and the sleeping rate $\lambda$. We discuss the general case, and then, for the one-dimensional totally asymmetric case, study the phase transition between an active phase (for sufficiently large particle densities and/or small $\lambda$) and an absorbing one. We also present arguments regarding the asymptotic mean hopping velocity in the active phase, the rate of fixation in the absorbing phase, and survival of the infinite system at criticality. Using mean-field theory and Monte Carlo simulation, we locate the phase boundary. The phase transition appears to be continuous in both the symmetric and asymmetric versions of the process, but the critical behavior is very different. The former case is characterized by simple integer or rational values for critical exponents ($\beta = 1$, for example), and the phase diagram is in accord with the prediction of mean-field theory. We present evidence that the symmetric version belongs to the universality class of conserved stochastic sandpiles, also known as conserved directed percolation. Simulations also reveal an interesting transient phenomenon of damped oscillations in the activity density

Exact solutions for a mean-field Abelian sandpile

We introduce a model for a sandpile, with N sites, critical height N and each site connected to every other site. It is thus a mean-field model in the spin-glass sense. We find an exact solution for the steady state probability distribution of avalanche sizes, and discuss its asymptotics for large N.Comment: 10 pages, LaTe

Avalanches at rough surfaces

We describe the surface properties of a simple lattice model of a sandpile that includes evolving structural disorder. We present a dynamical scaling hypothesis for generic sandpile automata, and additionally explore the kinetic roughening of the sandpile surface, indicating its relationship with the sandpile evolution. Finally, we comment on the surprisingly good agreement found between this model, and a previous continuum model of sandpile dynamics, from the viewpoint of critical phenomena.Comment: 8 Pages, 7 Figures (in 15 parts); accepted for publication in Physical Review