The gravitational collapse of a complex scalar field in the harmonic map is modeled in spherical symmetry. Previous work has shown that a change of stability of the attracting critical solution occurs in parameter space from the discretely self-similarity critical (DSS) solution originally found by Choptuik to the continuously self-similar (CSS) solution found by Hirschmann and Eardley. In the region of parameter space in which the DSS is the attractor, a family of initial data is found which finds the CSS as its critical solution despite the fact that it has more than one unstable mode. An explanation of this is proposed in analogy to families that find the DSS in the region where the CSS is the attractor.

• Received 12 May 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.58.084015