Numerical experiments recently discussed in the literature show that identical nonlinear chaotic systems linked by a common noise term (or signal) may synchronize after a finite time. We study the process of synchronization as a function of the precision of calculations. Two generic behaviors of the average coalescence time are identified: exponential or linear. In both cases no synchronization occurs if iterations are done with infinite precision.

• Received 22 September 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.54.R2201