Post-spontaneous-symmetry-breaking power-laws after a very strong earthquake: Indication for the preparation of a new strong earthquake or not?

• Published in: Physica A 2022-03, Vol.589, p.126607, Article 126607
• Main Authors: Potirakis, Stelios M., Contoyiannis, Yiannis, Eftaxias, Konstantinos, Melis, Nikolaos S., Nomicos, Constantinos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autocorrelation function; Critical phenomena; Earthquakes; Spontaneous symmetry breaking
• ISSN: 0378-4371; 1873-2119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2021.126607

It has recently been found that the evolution of the preparation of a strong earthquake (EQ), as it is monitored through fracture-induced electromagnetic emissions (EME) in the MHz band, presents striking similarity with the evolution of a thermal system as temperature drops, since distinct steps of the evolution of the phenomenon of spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) can be identified. Here, the study of fracture-induced EME in the MHz band in analogy to thermal systems is extended to the phase of local fracture structures that follow after the SSB (and the occurrence of the main EQ). By comparing fracture-induced MHz EME associated with the strongest EQs (MW=6.9) that occurred in Greece during the last twenty years with the 3D Ising model, a way to distinguish whether a possible identification of post-SSB power-laws immediately after a very strong EQ is a sign for the preparation of a new strong EQ or not is provided. In the suggested approach, the time series analysis method known as the method of critical fluctuations is used, enhanced by the autocorrelation function. •The phase of broken symmetry, after spontaneous-symmetry-breaking (SSB), is studied.•Using 3D Ising is shown that power-laws survive at temperatures close after SSB.•Preseismic MHz electromagnetic emissions are studied in analogy to thermal systems.•Low autocorrelation values in post-SSB lower-laws imply no strong quake is expected.