Control of transients in "lethargic" systems

We introduce a nonfeedback technique for the control of the transition between two steady states in a dynamical system with two very different time scales. We exploit the phase space properties by applying a series of discrete constant levels in a control parameter, and are able to control both the delay time and the height of the overshoot in the system's response. The results of the numerical integration of a "paradigmatic" model are in good qualitative agreement with experimental results obtained in a Class B laser. [S1063-651X(99)50901-X].