Abstract

We study sandpile models as closed systems, with the conserved energy density zeta playing the role of an external parameter. The critical energy density zeta (c) marks a nonequilibrium phase transition between active and absorbing states. Several fixed-energy sandpiles are studied in extensive simulations of stationary and transient properties, as well as the dynamics of roughening in an interface-height representation. Our primary goal is to identify the universality classes of such models, in hopes of assessing the validity of two recently proposed approaches to sandpiles: a phenomenological continuum Langevin description with absorbing states, and a mapping to driven interface dynamics in random media.

Notes

Originally published in Physical Review E, v.62 no.4 (2000), pp.4564-4582. DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.62.4564. Dr. Vespignani is affiliated with Northeastern University as of the time of deposit.

Keywords

sandpile models, critical energy density, phase transition, universality classes

Subject Categories

Phase transformations (Statistical physics)

Disciplines

Physics

Publisher

American Physical Society

Publication Date

10-1-2000

Rights Information

©2000 American Physical Society

Rights Holder

American Physical Society


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