English

Self-organized criticality and interface depinning transitions

Statistical Mechanics 2007-05-23 v2

Abstract

We discuss the relation between self-organized criticality and depinning transitions by mapping sandpile models to equations that describe driven interfaces in random media. This equivalence yields a continuum description and gives insight about various ways of reaching the depinning critical point: slow drive (self-organized criticality), fixed density simulations, tuning the interface velocity (extremal drive criticality), or tuning the driving force. We obtain a scaling relation for the correlation length exponent for sandpiles.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9903346,
  title  = {Self-organized criticality and interface depinning transitions},
  author = {K. B. Lauritsen and M. J. Alava},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9903346},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

slightly revised version, latex, 5 pages

R2 v1 2026-07-22T12:10:38.133Z