Self-organized criticality in stick-slip models with periodic boundaries

TL;DR

This paper introduces a spring-block model with multiplicative driving that exhibits self-organized criticality under periodic boundary conditions, revealing a universal coarsening mechanism distinct from previous models.

Contribution

It presents a novel multiplicative driving mechanism inducing criticality with periodic boundaries, expanding understanding of threshold dynamics in self-organized critical systems.

Findings

Criticality occurs with periodic boundaries due to a coarsening process.

The model demonstrates a high degree of universality.

Behavior relevant to systems approaching equilibrium via punctuated threshold dynamics.

Abstract

A spring-block model governed by threshold dynamics and driven by temporally increasing spring constants is investigated. Due to its novel multiplicative driving, criticality occurs even with periodic boundary conditions via a mechanism distinct from that of previous models. This mechanism is dictated by a coarsening process. The results show a high degree of universality. The observed behavior should be relevant to a class of systems approaching equilibrium via a punctuated threshold dynamics.