Abstract
We show, using covariant Lyapunov vectors, that the tangent space of spatially extended dissipative systems is split into two hyperbolically decoupled subspaces: one comprising a finite number of frequently entangled “physical” modes, which carry the physically relevant information of the trajectory, and a residual set of strongly decaying “spurious” modes. The decoupling of the physical and spurious subspaces is defined by the absence of tangencies between them and found to take place generally; we find evidence in partial differential equations in one and two spatial dimensions and even in lattices of coupled maps or oscillators. We conjecture that the physical modes may constitute a local linear description of the inertial manifold at any point in the global attractor.
23 More- Received 13 July 2011
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.84.046214
©2011 American Physical Society