Bifurcation

Abstract

A bifurcation corresponds to the loss of stability of a reference state when a suited parameter, the bifurcation parameter, crosses a critical value, the bifurcation point. Here, the concept of bifurcation is illustrated through the case of thermal explosion mode of combustion synthesis described by the Semenov model. Another important example of bifurcation occurring in non-isothermal systems is associated with the loss of stability of a self-propagating stationary front.