It is investigated how a spatial quenched disorder modifies the dynamics of coupled map lattices. The disorder is introduced via the presence or absence of coupling terms among lattice sites. Two nonlinear maps have been considered embodying two paradigmatic dynamics. The Miller and Huse map can be associated with an Ising-type dynamics, whereas the logistic coupled maps is a prototype of a nontrivial collective dynamics. Various indicators quantifying the overall behavior, demonstrates that even a small amount of spatial disorder is capable to alter the dynamics found for purely ordered cases.

• Received 14 November 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.73.036214