Direct Resonance in Double‐Diffusive Systems

Abstract

In thermohaline convection and a number of other systems, both direct and oscillatory modes of instability are possible. Should these modes coalesce at some point in parameter space, nonlinear instabilities are likely to be more dramatic in the neighborhood of such a point than elsewhere. A finite‐amplitude evolution equation describing such events is derived here by the method of multiple scales. The results are compared with those obtained previously for model systems and by other methods. The direct resonance point of view is found to provide some new insights. A generalization to allow for slow spatial modulation of the amplitude is given and, among other possibilities, solitary‐wave solutions are obtainable.