DYNAMICAL DIMENSION OF DEFECTS IN SPATIOTEMPORAL CHAOS

We utilize the dynamical fluctuations in spatiotemporal chaotic system s to elucidate the dynamical role of topological defects. We find that each defect in a representative defect-mediated system is associated with one to two degrees of dynamical freedom. Furthermore, we find tha t a significant fraction of the total degrees of freedom is not associ ated with the defects, and, in fact, appear to be related to the backg round phase turbulence. This new understanding of defect-mediated chao s provides hope that these complicated systems may be amenable to redu ced statistical descriptions. [S0031-9007(98)07577-2].