Phase ordering induced by defects in chaotic bistable media

TL;DR

This paper studies how defects influence phase ordering in chaotic bistable media, revealing that defects can induce domain formation and lead to a transition from homogeneous to heterogeneous phases with complex patterns.

Contribution

It introduces the role of spatial defects in inducing phase domains and identifies a new class of coexistence patterns in chaotic bistable systems.

Findings

Defects induce domain formation in bistable media.

A transition from homogeneous to heterogeneous phases occurs with defect spacing.

A new class of chessboard-like coexistence pattern is identified.

Abstract

The phase ordering dynamics of coupled chaotic bistable maps on lattices with defects is investigated. The statistical properties of the system are characterized by means of the average normalized size of spatial domains of equivalent spin variables that define the phases. It is found that spatial defects can induce the formation of domains in bistable spatiotemporal systems. The minimum distance between defects acts as parameter for a transition from a homogeneous state to a heterogeneous regime where two phases coexist The critical exponent of this transition also exhibits a transition when the coupling is increased, indicating the presence of a new class of domain where both phases coexist forming a chessboard pattern.