https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2012-01652-9
Regular Article
Multiple and inverse topplings in the Abelian Sandpile Model
1 Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica and INFN, via G. Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy
2 Università di Pisa, Dipartimento di Fisica and INFN, largo B. Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
a e-mail: sergio.caracciolo@mi.infn.it
b e-mail: paoletti@df.unipi.it
c e-mail: andrea.sportiello@mi.infn.it
Received:
31
May
2012
Revised:
23
July
2012
Published online:
17
September
2012
The Abelian Sandpile Model is a cellular automaton whose discrete dynamics reaches an out-of-equilibrium steady state resembling avalanches in piles of sand. The fundamental moves defining the dynamics are encoded by the toppling rules. The transition monoid corresponding to this dynamics in the set of stable configurations is abelian, a property which seems at the basis of our understanding of the model. By including also antitoppling rules, we introduce and investigate a larger monoid, which is not abelian anymore. We prove a number of algebraic properties of this monoid, and describe their practical implications on the emerging structures of the model.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag, 2012
