Prefacep. xiAcknowledgmentp. xiiiIntroductionp. 1Characterization of the SOC Statep. 7Response Distributionsp. 7Temporal Fluctuationsp. 8Power Spectrum and Distribution of Lifetimesp. 9Spatial Correlation Functionsp. 10Systems Exhibiting SOCp. 12Introductionp. 12Sandpilesp. 14Ricepilesp. 16Superconducting Avalanchesp. 18Droplet Formationp. 23Earthquakesp. 25Evolutionp. 27Computer Modelsp. 29Introductionp. 29Sandpiles: Conservative Modelp. 29One-Dimensional Sandpilep. 30Dimensions Larger than 1p. 33Critical Responsep. 36Numerical Results: Distribution Functionsp. 37Power Spectrump. 39Earthquake Models: Nonconservative Modelsp. 42Criticality of the OFC Modelp. 44Nearest Neighbor OFC Modelp. 44Random Neighbor OFC Modelp. 46Distributions and Fluctuations in the Nearest Neighbor OFC Modelp. 47The Effect of Disorder on the OFC Modelp. 51Physical Relevance of the OFC Modelp. 54Lattice Gasp. 58Definition of the Lattice Gas Modelp. 58Properties of Lattice Gasp. 60The Lesson of Lattice Gasp. 62Physical Relevance of the Lattice Gas Modelp. 64Forest Firesp. 65Definition of a Critical Forest Fire Modelp. 66Simulation Results for the Forest Fire Modelp. 67Physical Relevance of the Forest Fire Modelp. 68Extremum Dynamicsp. 68The Model of Interface Growth in a Random Mediump. 69The Evolution Modelp. 73The Search for a Formalismp. 76Introductionp. 76Mean Field Theoryp. 77Sandpile Modelsp. 78Earthquake Modelsp. 81Diffusive Description of Lattice Gasp. 85Forest Fire Modelp. 86Model of Biological Evolutionp. 89Exact Solution of the Abelian Sandpilep. 92The [Delta] Matrix and the Probability Measure on the Configuration Spacep. 93Correlation Functionsp. 97Langevin Equationsp. 100Conservative Modelsp. 100Nonconservative Modelsp. 103Dynamically Driven Renormalization Group Calculationsp. 107Renormalization Transformationp. 108Exponentsp. 116Nonconservative Modelsp. 119Forest Fire Modelsp. 124Is It SOC or Not?p. 125Where Is SOC to be Found?p. 126What Is Tuning?p. 127AppendicesCode for the BTW Sandpilep. 131Code for the Lattice Gasp. 134Code for the Bak-Sneppen Evolution Modelp. 138Power Spectra and the Correlation Functionp. 141Statistical Weights in the DDRGp. 146Referencesp. 149Indexp. 153Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.