Abelian Sandpile Model

Recurrent States, Burning Numbers & Self-Organized Criticality

Controls

Statistics

Total grains0
Topplings0
Avalanche size0
Lost (boundary)0
Modenormal

Theory

Toppling rule: if z(v) ≥ 4,
z(v) → z(v) − 4
z(neighbor) → z(neighbor) + 1

Abelian property: order of topplings doesn't matter — same stable state.

Identity element e: e ⊕ e = e
(unique recurrent state s.t. adding e gives same stable config)

Color Legend

0 grains (black)
1 grain (dark green)
2 grains (amber)
3 grains (orange-red)
≥4 unstable (magenta)