Lagrangian formulation of Omori’s law and analogy with the cosmic Big Rip

Abstract

A recent model predicting Omori’s law giving the number of aftershocks per unit time following an earthquake involves a differential equation analogous to the Friedmann equation of cosmology. The beforeshock phase is analogous to an accelerating universe approaching a Big Rip, the main shock to the Big Rip singularity, and the aftershock to a contracting universe. The analogy provides some physical intuition and Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations for Omori’s law and its generalizations.