Power-law distributions in random multiplicative processes with non-Gaussian colored multipliers

Abstract

One class of universal mechanisms that generate power-law probability distributions is that of random multiplicative processes. In this paper, we consider a multiplicative Langevin equation driven by non-Gaussian colored multipliers. We analytically derive a formula that relates the power-law exponent to the statistics of the multipliers and numerically confirm its validity using multiplicative noise generated by chaotic dynamical systems and by a two-valued Markov process. We also investigate the relationship between our treatment and the large deviation analysis of time series, and demonstrate the appearance of log-periodic fluctuations superimposed on the power-law distribution due to the non-Gaussian nature of the multipliers. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.