Generic sandpile models have directed percolation exponents

Phys Rev Lett. 2002 Sep 2;89(10):104303. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.104303. Epub 2002 Aug 20.

Abstract

We study sandpile models with stochastic toppling rules and having sticky grains so that with a nonzero probability no toppling occurs, even if the local height of pile exceeds the threshold value. Dissipation is introduced by adding a small probability of particle loss at each toppling. Generically for the models with a preferred direction, the avalanche exponents are those of critical directed percolation clusters. For undirected models, avalanche exponents are those of directed percolation clusters in one higher dimension.