Sub-critical transitions in coupled maps lattices

International audienceSub-critical transitions between two collective regimes with different periods have been observed in a 4- dimensional hypercubic lattice of coupled logistic maps. Intermittent switching between the two regimes takes place in the upper part of the bifurcation diagram while systematic decay with exponentially distributed transient lifetimes is observed in the lowest part of the coexistence region. Statistical findings can be interpreted in terms of macroscopic quantities (measuring global properties) escaping from potential wells in the presence of noise induced by chaos in the microscopic dynamics (local variables)