116 research outputs found
Scaling of waves in the Bak-Tang-Wiesenfeld sandpile model
We study probability distributions of waves of topplings in the
Bak-Tang-Wiesenfeld model on hypercubic lattices for dimensions D>=2. Waves
represent relaxation processes which do not contain multiple toppling events.
We investigate bulk and boundary waves by means of their correspondence to
spanning trees, and by extensive numerical simulations. While the scaling
behavior of avalanches is complex and usually not governed by simple scaling
laws, we show that the probability distributions for waves display clear power
law asymptotic behavior in perfect agreement with the analytical predictions.
Critical exponents are obtained for the distributions of radius, area, and
duration, of bulk and boundary waves. Relations between them and fractal
dimensions of waves are derived. We confirm that the upper critical dimension
D_u of the model is 4, and calculate logarithmic corrections to the scaling
behavior of waves in D=4. In addition we present analytical estimates for bulk
avalanches in dimensions D>=4 and simulation data for avalanches in D<=3. For
D=2 they seem not easy to interpret.Comment: 12 pages, 17 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Universality in sandpiles
We perform extensive numerical simulations of different versions of the
sandpile model. We find that previous claims about universality classes are
unfounded, since the method previously employed to analyze the data suffered a
systematic bias. We identify the correct scaling behavior and conclude that
sandpiles with stochastic and deterministic toppling rules belong to the same
universality class.Comment: 4 pages, 4 ps figures; submitted to Phys. Rev.
Traffic jams and ordering far from thermal equilibrium
The recently suggested correspondence between domain dynamics of traffic
models and the asymmetric chipping model is reviewed. It is observed that in
many cases traffic domains perform the two characteristic dynamical processes
of the chipping model, namely chipping and diffusion. This correspondence
indicates that jamming in traffic models in which all dynamical rates are
non-deterministic takes place as a broad crossover phenomenon, rather than a
sharp transition. Two traffic models are studied in detail and analyzed within
this picture.Comment: Contribution to the Niels Bohr Summer Institute on Complexity and
Criticality; to appear in a Per Bak Memorial Issue of PHYSICA
Finite-size scaling of directed percolation in the steady state
Recently, considerable progress has been made in understanding finite-size
scaling in equilibrium systems. Here, we study finite-size scaling in
non-equilibrium systems at the instance of directed percolation (DP), which has
become the paradigm of non-equilibrium phase transitions into absorbing states,
above, at and below the upper critical dimension. We investigate the
finite-size scaling behavior of DP analytically and numerically by considering
its steady state generated by a homogeneous constant external source on a
d-dimensional hypercube of finite edge length L with periodic boundary
conditions near the bulk critical point. In particular, we study the order
parameter and its higher moments using renormalized field theory. We derive
finite-size scaling forms of the moments in a one-loop calculation. Moreover,
we introduce and calculate a ratio of the order parameter moments that plays a
similar role in the analysis of finite size scaling in absorbing nonequilibrium
processes as the famous Binder cumulant in equilibrium systems and that, in
particular, provides a new signature of the DP universality class. To
complement our analytical work, we perform Monte Carlo simulations which
confirm our analytical results.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figure
Universal scaling behavior of non-equilibrium phase transitions
One of the most impressive features of continuous phase transitions is the
concept of universality, that allows to group the great variety of different
critical phenomena into a small number of universality classes. All systems
belonging to a given universality class have the same critical exponents, and
certain scaling functions become identical near the critical point. It is the
aim of this work to demonstrate the usefulness of universal scaling functions
for the analysis of non-equilibrium phase transitions. In order to limit the
coverage of this article, we focus on a particular class of non-equilibrium
critical phenomena, the so-called absorbing phase transitions. These phase
transitions arise from a competition of opposing processes, usually creation
and annihilation processes. The transition point separates an active phase and
an absorbing phase in which the dynamics is frozen. A systematic analysis of
universal scaling functions of absorbing phase transitions is presented,
including static, dynamical, and finite-size scaling measurements. As a result
a picture gallery of universal scaling functions is presented which allows to
identify and to distinguish universality classes.Comment: review article, 160 pages, 60 figures include
Numerical Determination of the Avalanche Exponents of the Bak-Tang-Wiesenfeld Model
We consider the Bak-Tang-Wiesenfeld sandpile model on a two-dimensional
square lattice of lattice sizes up to L=4096. A detailed analysis of the
probability distribution of the size, area, duration and radius of the
avalanches will be given. To increase the accuracy of the determination of the
avalanche exponents we introduce a new method for analyzing the data which
reduces the finite-size effects of the measurements. The exponents of the
avalanche distributions differ slightly from previous measurements and
estimates obtained from a renormalization group approach.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure
The non-equilibrium phase transition of the pair-contact process with diffusion
The pair-contact process 2A->3A, 2A->0 with diffusion of individual particles
is a simple branching-annihilation processes which exhibits a phase transition
from an active into an absorbing phase with an unusual type of critical
behaviour which had not been seen before. Although the model has attracted
considerable interest during the past few years it is not yet clear how its
critical behaviour can be characterized and to what extent the diffusive
pair-contact process represents an independent universality class. Recent
research is reviewed and some standing open questions are outlined.Comment: Latexe2e, 53 pp, with IOP macros, some details adde
Universality Classes in Isotropic, Abelian and non-Abelian, Sandpile Models
Universality in isotropic, abelian and non-abelian, sandpile models is
examined using extensive numerical simulations. To characterize the critical
behavior we employ an extended set of critical exponents, geometric features of
the avalanches, as well as scaling functions describing the time evolution of
average quantities such as the area and size during the avalanche. Comparing
between the abelian Bak-Tang-Wiesenfeld model [P. Bak, C. Tang and K.
Wiensenfeld, Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 381 (1987)], and the non-abelian models
introduced by Manna [S. S. Manna, J. Phys. A. 24, L363 (1991)] and Zhang [Y. C.
Zhang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 63, 470 (1989)] we find strong indications that each
one of these models belongs to a distinct universality class.Comment: 18 pages of text, RevTeX, additional 8 figures in 12 PS file
Patchiness and Demographic Noise in Three Ecological Examples
Understanding the causes and effects of spatial aggregation is one of the
most fundamental problems in ecology. Aggregation is an emergent phenomenon
arising from the interactions between the individuals of the population, able
to sense only -at most- local densities of their cohorts. Thus, taking into
account the individual-level interactions and fluctuations is essential to
reach a correct description of the population. Classic deterministic equations
are suitable to describe some aspects of the population, but leave out features
related to the stochasticity inherent to the discreteness of the individuals.
Stochastic equations for the population do account for these
fluctuation-generated effects by means of demographic noise terms but, owing to
their complexity, they can be difficult (or, at times, impossible) to deal
with. Even when they can be written in a simple form, they are still difficult
to numerically integrate due to the presence of the "square-root" intrinsic
noise. In this paper, we discuss a simple way to add the effect of demographic
stochasticity to three classic, deterministic ecological examples where
aggregation plays an important role. We study the resulting equations using a
recently-introduced integration scheme especially devised to integrate
numerically stochastic equations with demographic noise. Aimed at scrutinizing
the ability of these stochastic examples to show aggregation, we find that the
three systems not only show patchy configurations, but also undergo a phase
transition belonging to the directed percolation universality class.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures. To appear in J. Stat. Phy
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