Eur. Phys. J. B 67, 437-443 (2009)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2008-00474-4

Finite-size effects on the statistics of extreme events in the BTW model

Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Str. 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany

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Received: 17 September 2008
Published online: 24 December 2008

Abstract

The BTW Abelian sandpile model is a prominent example of systems showing self-organised criticality (SOC) in the infinite size limit. We study finite-size effects with special focus on the statistics of extreme events, i.e., of particularly large avalanches. Not only the avalanche size probability distribution, but also the mutual independence of large avalanches in the critical state is affected by finite-size effects. Instead of a Poissonian recurrence time distribution, in the finite system we find a repulsion of extreme events that depends on the avalanche size and not on the respective probability. The dependence of these effects on the system size is investigated and some data collapse is found. Our results imply that SOC is an unsuitable mechanism for the explanation of extreme events which occur in clusters.