Generic Criticality in a Model of Evolution

Abstract

Using Monte Carlo simulations, we show that for a certain model of biological evolution, which is driven by non-extremal dynamics, active and absorbing phases are separated by a critical phase. In this phase both the density of active sites $\rho(t)$ and the survival probability of spreading $P(t)$ decay as $t^{-\delta}$, where $\delta \sim 0.5$. At the critical point, which separates the active and critical phases, $\delta\sim 0.29$, which suggests that this point belongs to the so-called parity-conserving universality class. The model has infinitely many absorbing states and, except for a single point, has no conservation law.