Competition of synchronization domains in arrays of chaotic homoclinic systems.

We investigate the response of an open chain of bidirectionally coupled chaotic homoclinic systems to external periodic stimuli. When one end of the chain is driven by a periodic signal, the system propagates a phase synchronization state in a certain range of coupling strengths and external frequencies. When two simultaneous forcings are applied at different points of the array, a rich phenomenology of stable competitive states is observed, including temporal alternation and spatial coexistence of synchronization domains.