Chaotic behavior in a Z 2 × Z 2 field theory ∗

We investigate the presence of chaos in a system of two real scalar fields with discrete Z 2 × Z 2 symmetry. The potential that identify the system is defined with a real parameter r and presents distinct features for r > 0 and for r < 0. For static field configurations, the system ntsupports two topological sectors for r > 0, and only one for r < 0. Under the assumption of spatially homogeneous fields, the system exhibts chaotic behavior almost everywhere in parameter space. In particular a more complex dynamics appears for r > 0; in this case chaos can decrease for increasing energy, a fact that is absent for r < 0.