Avalanches at rough surfaces

TL;DR

This paper investigates the surface properties and roughening behavior of a lattice sandpile model with evolving disorder, proposing a scaling hypothesis and comparing it with continuum models to understand critical phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a dynamical scaling hypothesis for sandpile automata and explores the kinetic roughening of the sandpile surface, linking it to sandpile evolution and continuum models.

Findings

Good agreement between lattice and continuum models of sandpile dynamics

Identification of a dynamical scaling hypothesis for sandpile automata

Insights into the relationship between surface roughening and critical phenomena

Abstract

We describe the surface properties of a simple lattice model of a sandpile that includes evolving structural disorder. We present a dynamical scaling hypothesis for generic sandpile automata, and additionally explore the kinetic roughening of the sandpile surface, indicating its relationship with the sandpile evolution. Finally, we comment on the surprisingly good agreement found between this model, and a previous continuum model of sandpile dynamics, from the viewpoint of critical phenomena.