Statistical properties of chaos at onset of electroconvection in a homeotropically aligned nematic layer

The recently discovered chaos at the onset of electroconvection in a homeot ropically aligned nematic layer caused by slow random long-wavelength modul ations of a roll pattern is discussed. The temporal autocorrelation functio n for components of the order parameter is expressed in terms of probabilit y density for random drift velocity of the pattern. It is shown that despit e the fact that the problem has at least two different characteristic times associated with the slow pattern dynamics, only one of them enters into th e autocorrelation function. [S1063-651X(99)12003-8].