Gutenberg-Richter-type relation for laboratory fracture-induced electromagnetic radiation

Abstract
The fractal nature of electromagnetic radiation induced by uniaxial and triaxial rock fracture is considered. Both the well-known Gutenberg-Richter-type and the Benioff strain-release relationship, for earthquakes and starquakes, are shown to extend to the microscale (millimeters-centimeters). Results show that both the b value of the Gutenberg-Richter-type law and the slope of the Benioff strain-release relationship of the electromagnetic radiation signals are similar to values known for earthquakes. These results imply that a common mechanism is acting at all scales.