Path integrals, differential renormalization-group, and stochastic systems near criticality

It is demonstrated, using the techniques of path integrals and renormalization-group, that nonlinear stochastic systems near criticality (including self-organized criticality) generally exhibit low-dimensional behavior. The symmetry which characterizes a particular criticality can be broken by the appearance of relevant scaling fields. A connection is made between the fractal dimensions of finite-dimensional chaotic systems and the anomalous dimensions in stochastic systems near criticality. The effect of additional random noise on stochastic systems is also delineated.