Large scale simulations of the Zhang sandpile model

Abstract

We consider the non Abelian sandpile model introduced by Y.-C. Zhang on a two-dimensional square lattice. The static and dynamical properties of the model are investigated and compared to the Abelian sandpile model of Bak, Tang and Wiesenfeld. A detailed analysis which takes the finite size effects into account yields that the exponents of the avalanche probability distribution are the same as in the Abelian model.