A time developing phenomenon is said to exhibit self-similarity if the numerical value of certain observable quantity <math>f(x,t)</math> measured at different times are different but the corresponding dimensionless quantity at given value of <math>x/t^z</math> remain invariant. It happens if the quantity <math>f(x,t)</math> exhibits dynamic scaling. The idea is just an extension of the idea of similarity of two triangles. Note that two triangles are similar if the numerical values of their sides are different however the corresponding dimensionless quantities, such as their angles, coincide. | A time developing phenomenon is said to exhibit self-similarity if the numerical value of certain observable quantity <math>f(x,t)</math> measured at different times are different but the corresponding dimensionless quantity at given value of <math>x/t^z</math> remain invariant. It happens if the quantity <math>f(x,t)</math> exhibits dynamic scaling. The idea is just an extension of the idea of similarity of two triangles. Note that two triangles are similar if the numerical values of their sides are different however the corresponding dimensionless quantities, such as their angles, coincide. |