Spatiotemporal chaotic localized state in liquid crystal light valve experiments with optical feedback

The existence, stability properties, and dynamical evolution of localized spatiotemporal chaos are studied. We provide evidence of spatiotemporal chaotic localized structures in a liquid crystal light valve experiment with optical feedback. The observations are supported by numerical simulations of the Lifshitz model describing the system. This model exhibits coexistence between a uniform state and a spatiotemporal chaotic pattern, which emerge as the necessary ingredients to obtain localized spatiotemporal chaos. In addition, we have derived a simplified model that allows us to unveil the front interaction mechanism at the origin of the localized spatiotemporal chaotic structures. © 2013 American Physical Society