A one-dimensional chain of forced nonlinear oscillators is investigated. This model exhibits typical behavior in periodically forced, spatially extended, nonlinear systems. At low driving amplitudes characteristic domainlike structure appears accompanied by simple asymptotic time dependence. Before reaching its final state, however, the chain behaves chaotically. The chaotic transients appear as intermittent bursts mainly concentrated at the domain walls. At higher driving, the chaotic transient becomes longer and longer until the time dependence apparently corresponds to sustained chaos with the chain state characterized by the absence of domainlike spatial structure.

• Received 17 October 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.39.4835