Rotational sandpile models: A finite size scaling study
Abstract Nontrivial critical behaviour is observed in equilibrium lattice statistical models under rotational constraint. Effect of rotational constraint on lattice statistical models at out of equilibrium situation is important to study. Critical properties of non-equilibrium steady state of sandpile models are studied under rotational constraint via finite size scaling (FSS) analysis. Not only FSS is found to be valid for a wide range of rotational sandpile models but also they are found to belong to the same universality class.
Characteristics of deterministic and stochastic sandpile models in a rotational sandpile model.
Rotational constraint representing a local external bias generally has a nontrivial effect on the critical behavior of lattice statistical models in equilibrium critical phenomena. In order to study the effect of rotational bias in an out-of-equilibrium situation like self-organized criticality, a two state "quasideterministic" rotational sandpile model is developed here imposing rotational constraint on the flow of sand grains. An extended set of critical exponents are estimated to characterize the avalanche properties at the nonequilibrium steady state of the model. The probability distribution functions are found to obey usual finite size scaling supported by negative time autocorrelation between the toppling waves. The model exhibits characteristics of both deterministic and stochastic sandpile models.
Long term response stability of a well-type ionization chamber used in calibration of high dose rate brachytherapy sources
Well-type ionization chamber is often used to measure strength of brachytherapy sources. This study aims to check long term response stability of High Dose Rate (HDR)-1000 Plus well-type ionization chamber in terms of reference air kerma rate (RAKR) of a reference 137Cs brachytherapy source and recommend an optimum frequency of recalibration. An HDR-1000 Plus well-type ionization chamber, a reference 137Cs brachytherapy source (CDCSJ5), and a MAX-4000 electrometer were used in this study. The HDR-1000 Plus well-type chamber was calibrated in terms of reference air kerma rate by the Standards Laboratory of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna. The response of the chamber was verified at regular intervals over a period of eight years using the reference 137Cs source. All required correction factors were applied in the calculation of the RAKR of the 137Cs source. This study reveals that the response of the HDR-1000 Plus well-type chamber was well within ±0.5% for about three years after calibration/recalibration. However, it shows deviations larger than ±0.5% after three years of calibration/recalibration and the maximum variation in response of the chamber during an eight year period was 1.71%. The optimum frequency of recalibration of a high dose rate well-type chamber should be three years.