View Proposal #406
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| ID | 406 |
|---|---|
| First Name | Mike |
| Last Name | Johnson |
| Institution | Luther College |
| Speaker Category | faculty |
| Title of Talk | Missing Avalanche Sizes in the 1 dimensional sandpile model |
| Abstract | The one-dimensional sandpile model has many interesting connections with number theory. When looking at the size of sandpile avalanches, powers of 2 seem to be mysteriously absent. Using a trough model, we classify avalanches into two categories. The size of each type can be described as either a sum of consecutive integers or a product of two integers with controlled sum. Since powers of two cannot be written as a sum of two or more consecutive positive integers, this explains why powers of two are not common avalanche sizes. We then estimate the minimal sandpile length required to find an avalanche of a given size. |
| Subject area(s) | |
| Suitable for undergraduates? | Y |
| Day Preference | SaturdayStrong |
| Computer Needed? | |
| Bringing a laptop? | Y |
| Overhead Needed? | N |
| Software requests | |
| Special Needs | |
| Date Submitted | 10/01/2014 |
| Year | 2014 |