Recognition of nonextensive statistical distributions by the eigencoordinates method

Nonextensive statistical distributions suggested by Tsallis are studied in the framework of the so-called eigencoordinates (ECs) method which allows t o recognize them with high level of authenticity. At first, the possibiliti es of the ECs method have been demonstrated on model files to exhibit some peculiarities of this new method. Then the amplitude distributions of the r eal noise tracks before and after earthquakes have been analyzed. It has be en shown that this type of noise is fractal and strongly correlated; histog rams of the noise amplitudes with high level of reliability are really desc ribed by a distribution coming from nonextensive statistics. The possibilit ies and recommendations for the application of the ECs method to identify t heoretical curves claimed for the description of experimental data are disc ussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.