Exponential transient rotating waves in a bistable ring of unidirectionally coupled maps

Properties of transient rotating waves in a bistable ring of unidirectionally coupled antisymmetric cubic maps are studied. A kinematical model shows that the duration of rotating waves increases exponentially with the number of elements. The probability density function of the duration of rotating waves generated under random initial conditions has a power law form up to a cut-off. In addition, spatiotemporal noise of intermediate intensity makes the duration of rotating waves increase. Further, rotating waves are stabilized through bifurcations of steady states as coupling strength increases.