Complex scaling behavior of nonconserved self-organized critical systems

Area of Science:

• Complex systems
• Computational physics
• Geophysics

Background:

• The Olami-Feder-Christensen model is a key example of dissipative self-organized criticality.
• Understanding event size distributions is crucial for modeling phenomena like earthquakes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the factors influencing event size distribution in the Olami-Feder-Christensen model.
• To investigate the impact of computational precision on model dynamics.
• To explore parallels with systems under periodic boundary conditions.

Main Methods:

• Numerical simulation of the Olami-Feder-Christensen earthquake model.
• Analysis of event size distributions.
• Comparison of model dynamics with periodic boundary conditions.

Main Results:

• Event size distribution is shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including floating-point precision.
• Synchronized regions exhibit dynamics similar to systems with periodic boundary conditions.
• Asymptotic avalanche size distribution is conjectured to be dominated by size 1 events.

Conclusions:

• Computational precision significantly affects the observed event size distribution.
• The Olami-Feder-Christensen model's behavior suggests a convergence towards smaller events in large systems.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the implications for real-world systems.