A mean-field Bak-Sneppen model with varying interaction strength

Abstract

We propose a mean-field Bak-Sneppen (MFBS) model with varying interaction strength. The interaction strength, here denoted by α, specifies the degree of interaction, and varies smoothly between 0 for no interaction and 1 for full interaction (restoring the original BS model). Our simulations of the MFBS model reveal some interesting features. When β is non-zero, the MFBS model can evolve to a self-organized critical (SOC) state. The critical exponent of the avalanche size distribution, τ, is insensitive to changes in α. The critical exponent of average avalanche size, γ, and the avalanche dimension exponent, D, both increase slightly with α< 0.5 but remain constant if α >0.5. The critical threshold fc decreases almost linearly with α. © 2011 Science China Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.