Relaxation and Transients in a Time-Dependent logistic Map

We study the one-dimensional logistic map with control parameter perturbed by a small periodic function. In the pure constant case, scaling arguments are used to obtain the exponents related to the relaxation of the trajectories at the exchange of stability, period-doubling and tangent bifurcations. In particular, we evaluate the exponent z which describes the divergence of the relaxation time τ near a bifurcation by the relation τ ∼ |R−Rc|−z. Here, R is the control parameter and Rc is its value at the bifurcation. In the time-dependent case new attractors may appear leading to a different bifurcation diagram. Beside these new attractors, complex attractors also arise and are responsible for transients in many trajectories. We obtain, numerically, the exponents that characterize these transients and the relaxation of the trajectories.