Coupled logistic maps and non-linear differential equations

Abstract

We study the continuum space-time limit of a periodic one dimensional array of deterministic logistic maps coupled diffusively. First, we analyse this system in connection with a stochastic one dimensional Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) equation for confined surface fluctuations. We compare the large-scale and long-time behaviour of space-time correlations in both systems. The dynamic structure factor of the coupled map lattice (CML) of logistic units in its deep chaotic regime and the usual d=1 KPZ equation have a similar temporal stretched exponential relaxation. Conversely, the spatial scaling and, in particular, the size dependence are very different due to the intrinsic confinement of the fluctuations in the CML. We discuss the range of values of the non-linear parameter in the logistic map elements and the elastic coefficient coupling neighbours on the ring for which the connection with the KPZ-like equation holds. In the same spirit, we derive a continuum partial differential equation governing the evolution of the Lyapunov vector and we confirm that its space-time behaviour becomes the one of KPZ. Finally, we briefly discuss the interpretation of the continuum limit of the CML as a Fisher-Kolmogorov-Petrovsky-Piscounov (FKPP) non-linear diffusion equation with an additional KPZ non-linearity and the possibility of developing travelling wave configurations.