575 research outputs found
Near mean-field behavior in the generalized Burridge-Knopoff earthquake model with variable range stress transfer
Simple models of earthquake faults are important for understanding the
mechanisms for their observed behavior in nature, such as Gutenberg-Richter
scaling. Because of the importance of long-range interactions in an elastic
medium, we generalize the Burridge-Knopoff slider-block model to include
variable range stress transfer. We find that the Burridge-Knopoff model with
long-range stress transfer exhibits qualitatively different behavior than the
corresponding long-range cellular automata models and the usual
Burridge-Knopoff model with nearest-neighbor stress transfer, depending on how
quickly the friction force weakens with increasing velocity. Extensive
simulations of quasiperiodic characteristic events, mode-switching phenomena,
ergodicity, and waiting-time distributions are also discussed. Our results are
consistent with the existence of a mean-field critical point and have important
implications for our understanding of earthquakes and other driven dissipative
systems.Comment: 24 pages 12 figures, revised version for Phys. Rev.
Global Seismic Nowcasting With Shannon Information Entropy.
Seismic nowcasting uses counts of small earthquakes as proxy data to estimate the current dynamical state of an earthquake fault system. The result is an earthquake potential score that characterizes the current state of progress of a defined geographic region through its nominal earthquake "cycle." The count of small earthquakes since the last large earthquake is the natural time that has elapsed since the last large earthquake (Varotsos et al., 2006, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.74.021123). In addition to natural time, earthquake sequences can also be analyzed using Shannon information entropy ("information"), an idea that was pioneered by Shannon (1948, https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1538-7305.1948.tb01338.x). As a first step to add seismic information entropy into the nowcasting method, we incorporate magnitude information into the natural time counts by using event self-information. We find in this first application of seismic information entropy that the earthquake potential score values are similar to the values using only natural time. However, other characteristics of earthquake sequences, including the interevent time intervals, or the departure of higher magnitude events from the magnitude-frequency scaling line, may contain additional information
Breaking a one-dimensional chain: fracture in 1 + 1 dimensions
The breaking rate of an atomic chain stretched at zero temperature by a
constant force can be calculated in a quasiclassical approximation by finding
the localized solutions ("bounces") of the equations of classical dynamics in
imaginary time. We show that this theory is related to the critical cracks of
stressed solids, because the world lines of the atoms in the chain form a
two-dimensional crystal, and the bounce is a crack configuration in (unstable)
mechanical equilibrium. Thus the tunneling time, Action, and breaking rate in
the limit of small forces are determined by the classical results of Griffith.
For the limit of large forces we give an exact bounce solution that describes
the quantum fracture and classical crack close to the limit of mechanical
stability. This limit can be viewed as a critical phenomenon for which we
establish a Levanyuk-Ginzburg criterion of weakness of fluctuations, and
propose a scaling argument for the critical regime. The post-tunneling dynamics
is understood by the analytic continuation of the bounce solutions to real
time.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure
Fluctuations and correlations in sandpile models
We perform numerical simulations of the sandpile model for non-vanishing
driving fields and dissipation rates . Unlike simulations
performed in the slow driving limit, the unique time scale present in our
system allows us to measure unambiguously response and correlation functions.
We discuss the dynamic scaling of the model and show that
fluctuation-dissipation relations are not obeyed in this system.Comment: 5 pages, latex, 4 postscript figure
Avalanches in Breakdown and Fracture Processes
We investigate the breakdown of disordered networks under the action of an
increasing external---mechanical or electrical---force. We perform a mean-field
analysis and estimate scaling exponents for the approach to the instability. By
simulating two-dimensional models of electric breakdown and fracture we observe
that the breakdown is preceded by avalanche events. The avalanches can be
described by scaling laws, and the estimated values of the exponents are
consistent with those found in mean-field theory. The breakdown point is
characterized by a discontinuity in the macroscopic properties of the material,
such as conductivity or elasticity, indicative of a first order transition. The
scaling laws suggest an analogy with the behavior expected in spinodal
nucleation.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. E, corrected typo in
authors name, no changes to the pape
Gutenberg Richter and Characteristic Earthquake Behavior in Simple Mean-Field Models of Heterogeneous Faults
The statistics of earthquakes in a heterogeneous fault zone is studied
analytically and numerically in the mean field version of a model for a
segmented fault system in a three-dimensional elastic solid. The studies focus
on the interplay between the roles of disorder, dynamical effects, and driving
mechanisms. A two-parameter phase diagram is found, spanned by the amplitude of
dynamical weakening (or ``overshoot'') effects (epsilon) and the normal
distance (L) of the driving forces from the fault. In general, small epsilon
and small L are found to produce Gutenberg-Richter type power law statistics
with an exponential cutoff, while large epsilon and large L lead to a
distribution of small events combined with characteristic system-size events.
In a certain parameter regime the behavior is bistable, with transitions back
and forth from one phase to the other on time scales determined by the fault
size and other model parameters. The implications for realistic earthquake
statistics are discussed.Comment: 21 pages, RevTex, 6 figures (ps, eps
Statistics of Earthquakes in Simple Models of Heterogeneous Faults
Simple models for ruptures along a heterogeneous earthquake fault zone are
studied, focussing on the interplay between the roles of disorder and dynamical
effects. A class of models are found to operate naturally at a critical point
whose properties yield power law scaling of earthquake statistics. Various
dynamical effects can change the behavior to a distribution of small events
combined with characteristic system size events. The studies employ various
analytic methods as well as simulations.Comment: 4 pages, RevTex, 3 figures (eps-files), uses eps
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on eye cancer care in United Kingdom
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the National Health Service in United Kingdom. The UK Ocular Oncology Services evaluated the impact on the adult eye cancer care in the UK. All four adult Ocular Oncology centres participated in a multicentre retrospective review comparing uveal melanoma referral patterns and treatments in a 4-month period during the national lockdown and first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 with corresponding periods in previous 2 years. During the national lockdown, referral numbers and confirmed uveal melanoma cases reduced considerably, equalling to ~120 fewer diagnosed uveal melanoma cases compared to previous 2 years. Contrary to the recent trend, increased caseloads of enucleation and stereotactic radiosurgery (p > 0.05), in comparison to fewer proton beam therapy (p < 0.05), were performed. In the 4-month period following lockdown, there was a surge in clinical activities with more advanced diseases (p < 0.05) presenting to the services. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to mount pressure and reveal its hidden impact on the eye cancer care, it is imperative for the Ocular Oncology Services to plan recovery strategies and innovative ways of working
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