MacKay, R. S.; Sepulchre, J.-A. Multistability in networks of weakly coupled bistable units. (English) Zbl 0891.34060 Physica D 82, No. 3, 243-254 (1995). Summary: We study the stationary states of networks consisting of weakly coupled bistable units. We prove the existence of a high multiplicity of stable steady states in networks with very general inter-unit dynamics. We present a method for estimating the critical coupling strength below which these stationary states persist in the network. In some cases, the presence of time-independent localized states in the system can be regarded as a ‘propagation failure’ phenomenon. We analyse this type of behaviour in the case of diffusive networks whose elements are described by one or two variables and give concrete examples. Cited in 25 Documents MSC: 34D30 Structural stability and analogous concepts of solutions to ordinary differential equations 94C05 Analytic circuit theory 34D20 Stability of solutions to ordinary differential equations 34C99 Qualitative theory for ordinary differential equations 93D99 Stability of control systems 34D10 Perturbations of ordinary differential equations 70K20 Stability for nonlinear problems in mechanics Keywords:weakly coupled bistable units; high multiplicity of stable steady states; diffusive networks PDF BibTeX XML Cite \textit{R. S. MacKay} and \textit{J. A. Sepulchre}, Physica D 82, No. 3, 243--254 (1995; Zbl 0891.34060) Full Text: DOI arXiv OpenURL References: [1] Purwins, H. G.; Klempt, G.; Berkemeier, J.: Temporal and spatial structures of nonlinear dynamical systems. Festkörperproblem (Advances in solid state physics) 27, 27-61 (1987) [2] Radehaus, C.; Dohmen, R.; Willebrand, H.; Niedemostheide, F. J.: Model for current patterns in physical systems with two charge-carriers. Phys. rev. A 42, 7426-7446 (1990) [3] Domb, C.; Lebowitz, J. L.: Phase transitions and critical phenomena. (1983) · Zbl 1063.82002 [4] Bowden, C. M.; Ciftan, M.; Robl, J. R.: Optical bistability. (1981) [5] De Kepper, P.; Boissonade, J.; Epstein, I. R.: Chloride iodide reaction – a versatile system for the study of nonlinear dynamic behaviour. J. phys. Chem. 94, 6525-6536 (1990) [6] Murray, J. D.: Mathematical biology. Biomathematics 19 (1989) · Zbl 0682.92001 [7] Aubry, S.; Abramovici, G.: Chaotic trajectories in the standard map: the concept of anti-integrability. Physica D 43, 199-219 (1990) · Zbl 0713.58014 [8] Keener, J. P.: Propagation and its failure in coupled systems of discrete excitable cells. SIAM J. Appl. math. 47, 556-572 (1987) · Zbl 0649.34019 [9] Firth, W. J.: Optical memory and spatial chaos. Phys. rev. Lett. 61, 329-332 (1988) [10] Keener, J. P.: The effects of discrete gap junction coupling on propagation in myocardium. J. theor. Biol. 148, 49-82 (1991) [11] Laplante, J. P.; Emeux, T.: Propagation failure in arrays of coupled bistable chemical reactors. J. phys. Chem. 96, 4931-4934 (1992) [12] Emeux, T.; Nicolis, G.: Propagating waves in discrete bistable reaction-diffusion systems. Physica D 67, 237-244 (1993) · Zbl 0787.92010 [13] R.S. MacKay and S. Aubry, Proof of existence of breathers for time-reversible or Hamiltonian networks of weakly coupled oscillators, Nonlinearity, in press. · Zbl 0811.70017 [14] Erneux, T.; Mandel, P.: Temporal aspects of absorptive optical bistability. Phys. rev. A 28, 896-909 (1983) This reference list is based on information provided by the publisher or from digital mathematics libraries. Its items are heuristically matched to zbMATH identifiers and may contain data conversion errors. It attempts to reflect the references listed in the original paper as accurately as possible without claiming the completeness or perfect precision of the matching.