We investigate the behavior of a chain of N nonlinear oscillators, in a model originally invoked to describe depinning of switching charge-density waves. The dynamics is dominated by the coexistence of a large number of attractors, one of which–the minimally stable state–plays a central role. At threshold, very broad depinning-time distributions occur for long chains. Physically, these long times reflect very slow motion punctuated by rapid but localized motion of the chain.

• Received 29 May 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.46.4676