 Oscillatory threshold of a thermosolutal Lorenz model

Linearization of the Lorenz model of thermosolutal convection at conduction yields $(\lambda +\sigma )(\lambda +1)(\lambda +\tau )-\sigma r(\lambda +\tau )+\sigma r_s(\lambda +1)=0$. A Hopf bifurcation requires the cubic coefficient identity $a_3=a_1{a}_2$ and positive frequency squared. Its threshold is the stated $r_H$, with ${\omega }^2=\sigma r_s(1-\tau )/(\sigma +1)-{\tau }^2>0$. If $r_s={\beta }^2\tau$ and $\delta =\sigma /(1+\sigma )$, then $r_H=1+\tau /\delta +{\beta }^2\tau \delta +O({\tau }^2)$. Comparing with the steady fold of a thermosolutal Lorenz model gives a leading nonnegative difference $\tau (\beta \delta -1{)}^2/\delta$ for $\beta \ge 0$.