Journal of Statistical Physics, Vol. 56, Nos. 1/2, 1989. p. 69-81.
We study the behavior of a Frisch-Hasslacher-Pomeau lattice gas automaton under the effect of a spatially periodic forcing. It is shown that the lattice gas dynamics reproduces the steady-state features of the bifurcation pattern predicted by a properly truncated model of the Navier Stokes equations. In addition, we show that the dynamical evolution of the instabilities driving the bifurcation can be modeled by supplementing the truncated Navier-Stokes equation with a random force chosen on the basis of the automaton noise.