Mixing properties of the Rössler system and consequences for coherence and synchronization analysis.

Cross-spectral and synchronization analysis of two independent, identical chaotic Rössler systems suggest a coupling although there is no interaction. This spuriously detected interaction can either be explained by the absence of mixing or by finite size effects. To decide which alternative holds the phase dynamics is studied by a model of the fluctuations derived from the system's equations. The basic assumption of the model is a diffusive character for the system which corresponds to mixing. Comparison of theoretical properties of the model with empirical properties of the Rössler system suggests that the system is mixing but the rate of mixing appears to be rather low.