Spatially periodic and temporally chaotic pattern in coupled nonidentical chaotic systems

A particular spatio-temporal pattern, the spatially periodic and temporally chaotic pattern (SPTCP), can be observed in coupled one-way ring and linear array systems. This is a state chaotic in time while periodic in space in a strict sense. In this work, a driven system, of coupled nonidentical chaotic elements, which supports this structure is studied. We find that the appearance of the pattern is closely connected with the cascade of generalized synchronization in the ring. In particular, the establishment of the spatial periodicity of the SPTCP is determined by the condition that all of the coupled sites in the ring stay in the generalized synchronous state.