Thermodynamic analysis of inverted bifurcation

Abstract

We present a thermodynamic analysis of inverted bifurcation in binary mixtures heated from below. From this analysis it follows that an inverted bifurcation is caused by the competition between a stabilizing effect with a long relaxation time and a destabilizing effect with a short relaxation time. These conditions are precisely the same as those that give rise to overstability. This might explain why overstability and inverted bifurcation occur in the same systems.