Schedule Sep 26, 2007
Crackling Noise: Learning from Magnets about Earthquakes?
Karin Dahmen, UIUC

Models suggest that the earth and magnets crackle alike! We show how recent studies on magnetizing avalanches ("Barkhausen Noise") in magnets driven by a slowly increasing magnetic field shed light on modeling the statistics of earthquakes in irregularly shaped fault zones, and motivate new ways to analyze seismic data. In particular we focus on the universal, i.e. detail independent, effects of disorder in both cases. The studies draw on methods from the theory of phase transitions. Applications to other crackling systems are also discussed.

Other video options

Author entry (protected)