Universality in solar flare, magnetic storm and earthquake dynamics using Tsallis statistical mechanics

The universal character of the dynamics of various extreme phenomena is an outstanding scientific challenge We show that X-ray flux and D-st time series during powerful solar flares and intense magnetic storms respectively obey a nonextensive energy distribution function for earthquake dynamics with similar values for the Tsallis entropic index q Thus evidence for universality in solar flares magnetic storms and earthquakes arise naturally in the framework of Tsallis statistical mechanics The observed similarity suggests a common approach to the interpretation of these diverse phenomena in terms of driving physical mechanisms that have the same character (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved