Corrections to Universal Fluctuations in Correlated Systems: the 2D XY-model

Generalized universality, as recently proposed, postulates a universal non-Gaussian form of the probability density function (PDF) of certain global observables for a wide class of highly correlated systems of finite volume N. Studying the 2D XY -model, we link its validity to renormalization group properties. It would be valid if there were a single dimension 0 operator, but the actual existence of several such operators leads to T-dependent corrections. The PDF is the Fourier transform of the partition function Z(q) of an auxiliary theory which differs by a dimension 0 perturbation with a very small imaginary coefficient iq/N from a theory which is asymptotically free in the infrared. We compute the PDF from a systematic loop expansion of ln Z(q).Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev.

Condensation of Tubular D2-branes in Magnetic Field Background

It is known that in the Minkowski vacuum a bunch of IIA superstrings with D0-branes can be blown-up to a supersymmetric tubular D2-brane, which is supported against collapse by the angular momentum generated by crossed electric and magnetic Born-Infeld (BI) fields. In this paper we show how the multiple, smaller tubes with relative angular momentum could condense to a single, larger tube to stabilize the system. Such a phenomena could also be shown in the systems under the Melvin magnetic tube or uniform magnetic field background. However, depending on the magnitude of field strength, a tube in the uniform magnetic field background may split into multiple, smaller tubes with relative angular momentum to stabilize the system.Comment: Latex 10 pages, mention the dynamical joining of the tubes, modify figure

d_c=4 is the upper critical dimension for the Bak-Sneppen model

Numerical results are presented indicating d_c=4 as the upper critical dimension for the Bak-Sneppen evolution model. This finding agrees with previous theoretical arguments, but contradicts a recent Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 5746-5749 (1998)] that placed d_c as high as d=8. In particular, we find that avalanches are compact for all dimensions d<=4, and are fractal for d>4. Under those conditions, scaling arguments predict a d_c=4, where hyperscaling relations hold for d<=4. Other properties of avalanches, studied for 1<=d<=6, corroborate this result. To this end, an improved numerical algorithm is presented that is based on the equivalent branching process.Comment: 4 pages, RevTex4, as to appear in Phys. Rev. Lett., related papers available at http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~sboettc

The origin of power-law distributions in self-organized criticality

The origin of power-law distributions in self-organized criticality is investigated by treating the variation of the number of active sites in the system as a stochastic process. An avalanche is then regarded as a first-return random walk process in a one-dimensional lattice. Power law distributions of the lifetime and spatial size are found when the random walk is unbiased with equal probability to move in opposite directions. This shows that power-law distributions in self-organized criticality may be caused by the balance of competitive interactions. At the mean time, the mean spatial size for avalanches with the same lifetime is found to increase in a power law with the lifetime.Comment: 4 pages in RevTeX, 3 eps figures. To appear in J.Phys.G. To appear in J. Phys.

Spatial-temporal correlations in the process to self-organized criticality

A new type of spatial-temporal correlation in the process approaching to the self-organized criticality is investigated for the two simple models for biological evolution. The change behaviors of the position with minimum barrier are shown to be quantitatively different in the two models. Different results of the correlation are given for the two models. We argue that the correlation can be used, together with the power-law distributions, as criteria for self-organized criticality.Comment: 3 pages in RevTeX, 3 eps figure

Constitutive and life modeling of single crystal blade alloys for root attachment analysis

Work to develop fatigue life prediction and constitutive models for uncoated attachment regions of single crystal gas turbine blades is described. At temperatures relevant to attachment regions, deformation is dominated by slip on crystallographic planes. However, fatigue crack initiation and early crack growth are not always observed to be crystallographic. The influence of natural occurring microporosity will be investigated by testing both hot isostatically pressed and conventionally cast PWA 1480 single crystal specimens. Several differnt specimen configurations and orientations relative to the natural crystal axes are being tested to investigate the influence of notch acuity and the material's anisotropy. Global and slip system stresses in the notched regions were determined from three dimensional stress analyses and will be used to develop fatigue life prediction models consistent with the observed lives and crack characteristics

Unified Scaling Law for Earthquakes

We show that the distribution of waiting times between earthquakes occurring in California obeys a simple unified scaling law valid from tens of seconds to tens of years, see Eq. (1) and Fig. 4. The short time clustering, commonly referred to as aftershocks, is nothing but the short time limit of the general hierarchical properties of earthquakes. There is no unique operational way of distinguishing between main shocks and aftershocks. In the unified law, the Gutenberg-Richter b-value, the exponent -1 of the Omori law for aftershocks, and the fractal dimension d_f of earthquakes appear as critical indices.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Breakdown of self-organized criticality

We introduce two sandpile models which show the same behavior of real sandpiles, that is, an almost self-organized critical behavior for small systems and the dominance of large avalanches as the system size increases. The systems become fully self-organized critical, with the critical exponents of the Bak, Tang and Wiesenfeld model, as the system parameters are changed, showing that these systems can make a bridge between the well known theoretical and numerical results and what is observed in real experiments. We find that a simple mechanism determines the boundary where self-organized can or cannot exist, which is the presence of local chaos.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure

Layer Features of the Lattice Gas Model for Self-Organized Criticality

A layer-by-layer description of the asymmetric lattice gas model for 1/f-noise suggested by Jensen [Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 3103 (1990)] is presented. The power spectra of the lattice layers in the direction perpendicular to the particle flux is studied in order to understand how the white noise at the input boundary evolves, on the average, into 1/f-noise for the system. The effects of high boundary drive and uniform driving force on the power spectrum of the total number of diffusing particles are considered. In the case of nearest-neighbor particle interactions, high statistics simulation results show that the power spectra of single lattice layers are characterized by different $\beta_x$ exponents such that $\beta_x \to 1.9$ as one approaches the outer boundary.Comment: LaTeX, figures upon reques

Exact 4-point Scattering Amplitude of the Superconformal Schrodinger Chern-Simons Theory

We consider the non-relativistic superconformal U(N) X U(N) Chern-Simons theory with level (k,-k) possessing fourteen supersymmetries. We obtain an exact four-point scattering amplitude of the theory to all orders in 1/N and 1/k and prove that the scattering amplitude becomes trivial when k=1 and 2. We confirm this amplitude to one-loop order by using an explicit field theoretic computation and show that the beta function for the contact interaction vanishes to the one-loop order, which is consistent with the quantum conformal invariance of the underlying theory.Comment: 16 page