Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / iii / Paper 337 (Convection and Magnetoconvection)

Take the layer depth as the length unit, its thermal diffusion time as the time unit, and its imposed temperature difference as the temperature unit. Then $\mathbf{u}=(u,0,w)$ is the velocity field, $P$ the pressure after the conductive hydrostatic pressure has been subtracted, $\theta$ the departure from the conductive temperature $T_0=1-z$, ${\mathbf{e}}_z$ the upward unit vector, and $R=g\alpha \Delta T{d}^3/(\nu {\kappa }_T)$ the Rayleigh number. Here $d$ is the dimensional depth, $\nu$ the kinematic viscosity, ${\kappa }_T$ the thermal diffusivity and $\alpha$ the thermal expansion coefficient. The gradient, divergence and Laplacian act on the dimensionless coordinates. The term $w$ in the heat equation is advection of the background gradient, since $-\mathbf{u}\cdot \nabla T_0=w$. Mass density variations enter only the buoyancy term under the Boussinesq approximation; the incompressible flow constraint is $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{u}=0$.

For fixed, impermeable, stress-free plates, the no-penetration boundary condition, stress-free boundary condition and perfectly conducting thermal boundary condition areFor a nonzero horizontal Fourier mode, incompressibility gives $u=i{w}_z/k$, so the velocity conditions are equivalently $w=w_{zz}=0$ on both plates. A uniform horizontal velocity is not fixed by these boundary conditions; take its mean to be zero when discussing the stationary forced pattern.

The printed small-Prandtl-number label does not generally justify these equations. In thermal-time units the full momentum equation contains ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{-1}({\partial }_t\mathbf{u}+\mathbf{u}\cdot \nabla \mathbf{u})$, where the Prandtl number is $\mathrm{Pr}=\nu /{\kappa }_T$. Dropping that term gives infinite-Prandtl-number convection or another explicitly justified Stokes flow approximation. It is not the general $\mathrm{Pr}\to 0$ limit. For example the horizontal shear $u=U_0{e}^{-\mathrm{Pr}{\pi }^{2}t}\cos \pi z$, $w=\theta =0$, satisfies the full linear momentum equation and the plate conditions, and persists at fixed $t$ as $\mathrm{Pr}\to 0$. The printed inertia-free equation would instead require this shear to vanish. The following parts solve the equations actually displayed; applying them at small Prandtl number needs an additional slaving or creeping-flow ordering.

Take $h=2k_c$ and $D=d/dz$. Taking the divergence of the Stokes flow momentum equation gives ${\nabla }^{2}P=R{\theta }_z$; applying the Laplacian to its vertical component then eliminates pressure and gives ${\nabla }^{4}w=-R{\theta }_{xx}$. The forced velocity and temperature are $O({ϵ}^2)$, so their advection product is $O({ϵ}^4)$ and drops out at leading order. The steady heat equation reduces to $w_0+{\nabla }^2{\theta }_0=0$.

Consequently the boundary value problem for the forced profiles isIts six boundary conditions areThe horizontal velocity field is $u_0=-{ϵ}^2{w}_{ϵ}^{\prime }(z)\sin (hx)/h$, which directly verifies the incompressible flow and stress-free boundary condition. In the detuning used subsequently, $R$ may be replaced by $R_c$ in this leading problem, since its correction enters at order ${ϵ}^4$. The vertical profiles depend linearly on $\gamma$.

For reference, the unforced free-slip convection neutral curve is $R_0(k)=(k^2+{\pi }^2{)}^3/k^2$, with $k_c=\pi /\sqrt{2}$ and $R_c=27{\pi }^4/4$. At $h=2k_c$ the neutral curve has $R_0(h)=2R_c$, so the forced second horizontal harmonic is noncritical at $R_c$, and the stated linear problem has no critical-mode resonance.

Eliminate the instantaneous Stokes flow velocity in favour of temperature. On a horizontal Fourier mode $k$, the Stokes temperature-slaving operator maps $\theta$ to $w={\mathcal{W}}_R\theta$, where $(D^2-k^2{)}^{2}w=R{k}^2\theta$ and $w=w^{\prime \prime }=0$. The temperature evolution has linear operator ${\mathcal{L}}_R=D^2-k^2+{\mathcal{W}}_R$ and bilinear map $\mathcal{N}(\varphi ,\chi )=-{\mathbf{u}}_R[\varphi ]\cdot \nabla \chi$. Under the homogeneous thermal Dirichlet boundary conditions, ${\mathcal{L}}_{R_c}$ is self-adjoint. Normalize its critical eigenfunction as $g(z)=\sin \pi z$ and set $s=k_c^2+{\pi }^2$; the critical vertical velocity is $f=sg$.

At order $ϵ$, the critical eigenfunction equation gives ${\mathcal{L}}_{R_c}(g{e}^{i{k}_{c}x})=0$. At order ${ϵ}^2$, the weakly nonlinear expansion contains the imposed second harmonic and the quadratic products of the critical mode: a horizontally uniform temperature correction proportional to $|A{|}^2$ and, in a general vertical-mode calculation, a second harmonic proportional to $A^2$. These corrections are found by solving the noncritical boundary value problems, with homogeneous thermal data except for the imposed forcing.

At order ${ϵ}^3$, the method of multiple scales produces the slow derivative $A_{\tau }$, the detuning term $R_2{\partial }_R{\mathcal{L}}_R$, and the two cross-advection terms involving first- and second-order fields. Project the $e^{i{k}_{c}x}$ component onto the adjoint eigenfunction using the vertical inner product. This is the solvability condition in the method of multiple scales: divide each resonant projection by $⟨g,g{⟩}_z$. The detuning supplies $\mu A$ with $\mu \propto R_2$; interactions of horizontal wavenumbers $2k_c$ and $-k_c$ permit $\beta A^{\ast }$ with $\beta \propto \gamma$; self-interaction through the slaved mean and second harmonic supplies $-\lambda |A{|}^{2}A$. Other products have the wrong horizontal wavenumber. Reflection $x\mapsto -x$ permits real coefficients with this cosine forcing. Thus the symmetry-allowed spatially forced convection amplitude equation isThere is a useful specialization that should not be silently missed. For the literal one-vertical-mode Stokes flow problem, the vanishing two-to-one forcing coefficient for Stokes convection makes $\beta =0$ at this order. To see this, write a positive second-harmonic forcing component as $(w,\theta )=(W(z),\Theta (z))e^{2i{k}_{c}x}$, incorporating the cosine's factor $1/2$. Its coupling to the negative critical harmonic has projected integrand, apart from sign and its factor $A^{\ast }$,The integral vanishes because $g=0$ at both plates, even though $\Theta (0)$ is nonzero. This proves the cancellation without solving the forced profiles. The permitted coefficient is therefore zero times $\gamma$; symmetry alone does not establish nonzero phase pinning for the equations actually supplied.

The same normalization makes the remaining coefficients explicit. Since ${\mathcal{W}}_{R}g=(R{k}_c^2/s^2)g$, $\mu =R_2{k}_c^2/s^2$. The quadratic second harmonic cancels for $f=sg$, while the uniform correction is ${\theta }_{20}=-s|A{|}^2\sin (2\pi z)/(2\pi )$. Projecting $-w_1{\partial }_z{\theta }_{20}$ gives $-s^2|A{|}^{2}A/2$. Thus for the literal model and this temperature normalization,A generic nonzero $\beta$ would require a nonvanishing projection in an amended physical model or a different forcing structure. It is still meaningful to classify the real-coefficient amplitude equation requested independently.

Write $A=x+iy$. Then $x_{\tau }=(\mu +\beta -\lambda (x^2+y^2))x$ and $y_{\tau }=(\mu -\beta -\lambda (x^2+y^2))y$. These are a gradient flow for $V=-\frac{1}{2}(\mu +\beta )x^2-\frac{1}{2}(\mu -\beta )y^2+\frac{\lambda }{4}(x^2+y^2{)}^2$, so local minima give stable equilibrium points. At the origin the two eigenvalues are $\mu +\beta$ and $\mu -\beta$. The origin has exponential asymptotic stability if $\mu <-|\beta |$, retains asymptotic stability with algebraic decay at $\mu =-|\beta |$, and is unstable if $\mu >-|\beta |$. At equality, ${\rho }^2=x^2+y^2$ obeys $({\rho }^2{)}_{\tau }\le -2\lambda {\rho }^4$, since both linear coefficients are nonpositive. Integrating this inequality proves attraction even in the zero-eigenvalue direction.

For $\beta >0$ the stable nonzero equilibrium points are real; for $\beta <0$ they are imaginary:The real branch has Jacobian matrix eigenvalues $-2(\mu +\beta ),-2\beta$; the imaginary branch has $-2(\mu -\beta ),2\beta$. The oppositely aligned branch, when it exists, is a saddle equilibrium. No mixed real-imaginary nonzero equilibrium is possible when $\beta \ne 0$.

For $\beta =0$, the origin is stable for $\mu \le 0$, with algebraic decay at zero. If $\mu >0$, the circle $|A{|}^2=\mu /\lambda$ is radially attracting. Each point has Lyapunov stability but has a neutral phase direction, so it does not have individual asymptotic stability; the circle has orbital stability. This is the literal model's unpinned family. The general nonzero-$\beta$ branches instead exhibit phase locking to one of two phases separated by $\pi$.

Assume $R^2=1-q^2>0$. The symbol $R$ in this part is the convection roll amplitude, not the Rayleigh number of the previous part. Set $r=R^2$ for the algebra. The periodic boundary condition requires $qL\in 2\pi \mathbb{Z}$ and modulation wavenumbers $lL\in 2\pi \mathbb{Z}$. The conserved-field equation preserves the imposed zero mean of $B$, since the integral of an $X$ derivative over a period vanishes.

Equating the $e^{ilX+\lambda T}$ coefficients after linearization of the convection amplitude coupled to a conserved field givesThe conjugate sideband is needed because the variation of $|A{|}^{2}A$ couples a perturbation to its complex conjugate. Put $S=a_1+a_2$, $D=a_1-a_2$. The linear operator on $(S,D,b)$ isIts characteristic polynomial, expressed conveniently without expanding every coefficient, isAt $l=0$ it has roots $-2r,0,0$. The phase root is neutral; the uniform $B$ root is excluded by the prescribed zero-flux-perturbation mean. Nonzero arbitrarily long-wave modes remain allowed on a sufficiently large domain. For fixed $r>0$, the two roots tending to zero have $\lambda =l^2\nu +O(l^4)$ at simple limiting roots. Dividing the polynomial by $2l^4$ yieldsRepeated limiting roots may require a further expansion, but do not affect the strict instability criterion. If $(\mu -\sigma )r+2\sigma q^2>0$, the constant term is negative and the two real roots have opposite signs. The positive root gives a growing long-wave sideband instability. Using $r=1-q^2$ givesThis is sufficient for instability when a sufficiently small nonzero allowed $l$ is available. It is not an unconditional instability theorem for every fixed finite period. For example $q=0$, $\mu =2$, $\sigma =1$, $L=1$ satisfy the inequality, but the nonzero allowed $l$ obey $l^2\ge 4{\pi }^2$. Their roots are $-l^2$ and $-l^2-1\pm \sqrt{1+4l^2}$, all negative. The prescribed zero mean removes the uniform flux root and the remaining uniform phase is merely neutral. The corrected conclusion is the long-wave instability with a conserved mean field, with domain size and mode availability stated.

For a real steady amplitude, integrate the conserved-field equation twice. Periodicity forces the integration slope to vanish, and the zero mean fixes the remaining constant. HenceSubstituting this into the steady amplitude equation gives the nonlocal ordinary differential equationFor $A=R\mathrm{sech}(cX)$, use the hyperbolic secant identity $A^{\prime \prime }=c^{2}A-2c^2{A}^3/R^2$. Vanishing of the two independent coefficients givesChoose $c>0$ and $R>0$; an overall negative sign is another solution. Thus $\kappa >1$. The exact average of the proposed profile over the finite interval isFor $cL\gg 1$, the hyperbolic tangent differs from one by $O(e^{-cL})$, so $cL⟨A^2⟩\simeq 2R^2$. Eliminating $R^2=2c^2/(\kappa -1)$ gives the requested leading relationEquivalently $c+c^{-1}=K$, with $K=4\kappa /[L(\kappa -1)]$. Positive real roots exist precisely when $K\ge 2$; they are $(K\pm \sqrt{K^2-4})/2$ and are reciprocal. Each candidate must additionally satisfy $cL\gg 1$. For $L>2$, the leading necessary range is $1<\kappa \le L/(L-2)$, with equality at the coalescence $c=1$. Away from this leading-order fold, the inequality is strict.

The strict finite-window condition can also be seen by retaining the average exactly. Its consistency relation is $c+c^{-1}=K\tanh (cL/2)$. Since $\tanh (cL/2)<1$, it implies $K>2$, and henceThe strict endpoint distinction is exponentially small in the large-$cL$ approximation; the leading polynomial alone permits its double root. When $0<L\le 2$, this algebra imposes no finite upper bound on $\kappa >1$. The printed interval therefore needs $L>2$: for example $L=1$, $\kappa =1.1$ gives a large positive root $c\simeq 43.98$ of the leading equation and $cL\gg 1$, despite the printed upper endpoint being negative.

Finally, the single localized pulse of a conserved-field convection model is an approximate periodic solution. Its values agree at the interval ends, but its derivatives have opposite signs there; their magnitude is exponentially small, $O(cR{e}^{-cL/2})$. Periodic-tail corrections are needed for an exact smooth periodic boundary condition. The range derived from the truncated profile is a consistency condition, not a proof that every permitted parameter gives an exact stable periodic pulse.

For Darcy-Bénard convection, the dimensionless Darcy law is $\mathbf{u}=-\nabla p+R\theta {\mathbf{e}}_z$, with incompressibility and a heat equation about $T_0=1-z$. Here $R$ is a Darcy thermal-time Rayleigh number, with permeability replacing the squared-depth dependence in the fluid-layer Rayleigh number. The stated stream function convention gives $\mathbf{u}=(-{\psi }_z,0,{\psi }_x)$, so $w={\psi }_x$. The vertical-plane curl of Darcy law gives ${\nabla }^2\psi =R{\theta }_x$; omitting the quadratic perturbation advection from the heat equation gives ${\theta }_t={\psi }_x+{\nabla }^2\theta$.

On the impermeable connected square boundary, zero normal velocity makes $\psi$ constant along the boundary; choose that constant as zero. The prescribed conductive boundary temperature fixes $\theta =0$ on all four sides. Thus the perfect-conductor wording is interpreted through the supplied homogeneous perturbation data: the side temperatures retain the background vertical profile, rather than imposing a different isothermal side state.

At marginal stability put $q=\sqrt{R}$ and $P=\psi +iq\theta$. The two coupled equations implyThe gauge transformation for conducting-square Darcy onset $P=e^{-iq(x-1/2)/2}F$ removes the first derivative:The square's Dirichlet Laplacian eigenfunctions are $\sin (m\pi x)\sin (n\pi z)$, with eigenvalues of $-{\nabla }^2$ equal to ${\pi }^2(m^2+n^2)$, $m,n\ge 1$. The first marginal value is thereforeIt is genuinely the first instability threshold, not just an isolated neutral value. Eliminating $\psi$ gives the temperature linear operator $L_R={\Delta }_D+R{\partial }_x{\Delta }_D^{-1}{\partial }_x$, where ${\Delta }_D$ is the Dirichlet realization of an elliptic operator for the Laplacian. Integration by parts shows the second term is self-adjoint and nonnegative, since its quadratic form is $-⟨{\theta }_x,{\Delta }_D^{-1}{\theta }_x⟩\ge 0$. Thus the spectrum is real, starts negative at $R=0$, and its leading eigenvalue cannot cross into growth without a zero eigenvalue. The smallest zero value is the one found above.

Let $S=\sin \pi x\sin \pi z$, $\xi =x-1/2$ and $a=q_c/2=\sqrt{2}\pi$. Multiplying the lowest real $F=S$ by independent real and imaginary constants gives two real physical eigenfunctions:The subscripts indicate even and odd parity about $x=1/2$. Because $S$ is even in $\xi$, the first has even $\psi$ and odd $\theta$, while the second reverses those parities. They are linearly independent and satisfy all four Dirichlet boundary conditions. The lowest complex $F$ eigenfunction is simple over the complex numbers, but its arbitrary complex multiplier supplies two independent real pairs; this explains the physical degeneracy.

For homogeneous corrections at the square boundary, integration by parts gives $⟨{\psi }_0\Delta {\psi }_1⟩=⟨{\psi }_1\Delta {\psi }_0⟩$ and $⟨{\theta }_0\Delta {\theta }_1⟩=⟨{\theta }_1\Delta {\theta }_0⟩$. The first-derivative cross terms give $⟨{\psi }_0{\theta }_{1x}⟩=-⟨{\psi }_{0x}{\theta }_1⟩$ and $⟨{\theta }_0{\psi }_{1x}⟩=-⟨{\theta }_{0x}{\psi }_1⟩$. Using $\Delta {\psi }_0=q_c^2{\theta }_{0x}$ and $\Delta {\theta }_0=-{\psi }_{0x}$, these four contributions cancel in pairs. This proves exactly the supplied solvability condition, including the weight $q_c^2$ on its second row. Equivalently $({\psi }_0,q_c^2{\theta }_0)$ is the relevant adjoint eigenfunction for this coupled system.

At first order in the detuning, the inhomogeneous equations areInsert these right-hand sides into the verified solvability condition. One obtainsA further integration by parts, using the leading heat equation, givesHence the growth-rate solvability for conducting-square Darcy convection yieldsThe PDF prints the reciprocal of the required integral ratio. With its declared ${\theta }_t=ϵ\lambda \theta$, the displayed reciprocal does not follow and is false for $q_1\ne 0$. Both integrals are positive for these nonzero modes. The square's Poincaré inequality gives their ratio at least $2{\pi }^2$, so it cannot equal its reciprocal. For $q_1=1$, the two explicit parities give approximately $\lambda =11.34770$ for odd $\theta$ and $\lambda =7.30164$ for even $\theta$; the printed expression instead gives about $0.00446439$ and $0.00693825$. These values provide direct mode-based counterexamples.

The corrected growth rate is positive for $q_1>0$ and negative for $q_1<0$, as expected at a convection threshold. Because the critical eigenspace is two-dimensional, an arbitrary superposition generally splits into two different first-order growth rates. The specified parity modes remain independent under the detuning: the temperature linear operator preserves reflection parity, so the cross-parity projection vanishes. This justifies applying the scalar solvability condition to either listed eigenfunction; it should not be applied as a single common eigenvalue to an arbitrary mixture.

Consider a horizontal fluid layer under the Boussinesq approximation heated from below, rotating uniformly about its vertical axis. To make the linear formulas definite, take depth one, stress-free impermeable fixed-temperature plates, a horizontally infinite or sufficiently large periodic domain, and negligible centrifugal-buoyancy modifications. Rigid plates change the vertical eigenfunctions and thresholds and require their own boundary value problem; the explicit formulas below use the free-slip model. Let $P=\nu /{\kappa }_T$ be the Prandtl number, $\mathrm{Ta}=(2\Omega d^2/\nu {)}^2$ the Taylor number, and $R$ the Rayleigh number. Time is again measured on the thermal diffusion time.

The linearized rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection equations about conduction areThe Coriolis force does no work on the fluid, but it couples vertical motion to vertical vorticity and thereby changes the balance of buoyancy and viscous damping. On the plates require $w=\theta =0$ and ${\partial }_z{u}_x={\partial }_z{u}_y=0$. Write $\zeta =(\nabla \times \mathbf{u}{)}_z$. Taking a curl and a double curl removes pressure and givesA normal mode with horizontal wavenumber $k>0$, vertical index $n\ge 1$ and complex growth rate $s$ has $w=W\sin (n\pi z)e^{st+i\mathbf{k}\cdot \mathbf{x}}$, $\theta =\Theta \sin (n\pi z)e^{st+i\mathbf{k}\cdot \mathbf{x}}$ and $\zeta =Z\cos (n\pi z)e^{st+i\mathbf{k}\cdot \mathbf{x}}$. Put $a=k^2+n^2{\pi }^2$. The three equations become $a(s/P+a)W+\sqrt{\mathrm{Ta}}n\pi Z=R{k}^2\Theta$, $(s/P+a)Z=\sqrt{\mathrm{Ta}}n\pi W$, and $(s+a)\Theta =W$. Their determinant gives the rotating-convection growth-rate polynomialThis cubic includes viscous and thermal modes as well as the convective instability. It avoids excluding a root by division by $s/P+a$. Linear stability means every root has negative real part; stationary onset has $s=0$, while overstability has $s=\pm i\omega$ with nonzero angular frequency.

Setting $s=0$ gives the stationary neutral curve of rotating convectionFor oscillatory convection, set $s=i\omega$ and equate real and imaginary parts. Eliminating $R$ yieldsThe oscillatory neutral curve of rotating convection is physically admissible only when ${\omega }^2>0$. Thus $P<1$ and sufficiently rapid rotation are necessary; a formal minimum with ${\omega }^2\le 0$ is not a Hopf bifurcation. Convection begins at the smaller of the stationary minimum and the admissible oscillatory minimum. The angular frequency approaches zero where a fixed-wave-number stationary and oscillatory threshold meet; that is a double-zero limit of the cubic, requiring a different slow-time reduction.

For wavenumber selection in rotating convection, the lowest vertical index is $n=1$. To compare indices, set $k^2=n^2{\pi }^{2}y$ at fixed $y>0$. Both neutral thresholds have a positive term proportional to $n^4$ and a rotation term independent of $n$, while the admissible angular frequency squared decreases with $n$. Their minima therefore cannot improve on $n=1$. Set $t=k^2$, $m={\pi }^2$. Minimizing each neutral curve givesFor the latter equation also check ${\omega }^2>0$, or minimize over the admissible set instead. Without rotation, $k_c=\pi /\sqrt{2}$ and $R_c=27{\pi }^4/4$. At rapid rotation, $k_s\sim (\mathrm{Ta}{\pi }^2/2{)}^{1/6}$ and $R_{s,c}\sim 3(\mathrm{Ta}{\pi }^2/2{)}^{2/3}$: rotation narrows the horizontal convection rolls and raises their threshold. In a finite box only discrete wavenumbers are permitted, so the minimum must be taken over those allowed modes.

The rapid-rotation comparison has $R_{o,c}/R_{s,c}\sim 2P^{4/3}/(1+P{)}^{1/3}$. Its equality gives $8P^4-P-1=0$, with positive root about $0.67660$. Below this value, sufficiently rapid rotation can make oscillatory convection the primary instability; low Prandtl number allows inertial motions to interact with the thermal field before viscosity damps them. This estimate describes the selected neutral-curve comparison in the stated free-slip asymptotic model, rather than claiming every $P<1$ has oscillatory primary onset at every rotation rate.

Linear selection does not determine the nonlinear planform or its stability. A weakly nonlinear expansion with a solvability condition gives amplitude equations. A stationary convection roll amplitude has the Landau amplitude equation $A_T=rA-g|A{|}^{2}A$; a supercritical branch requires $g>0$ and has $|A{|}^2=r/g$, whereas $g<0$ requires higher-order saturation and permits subcritical behaviour. The coefficient depends on the physical parameters and boundary conditions, and should not be assumed positive merely because the linear threshold is known.

A nonzero-frequency Hopf bifurcation supplies oppositely travelling convection roll amplitudes $Z_{+},Z_{-}$. At a fixed orientation, a cubic normal form iswith complex $g,h$ and the understood symmetry exchanging propagation directions. For $r>0$ and $g_r=\mathrm{Re}g>0$, a travelling-roll branch has one nonzero amplitude, of squared modulus $r/g_r$; it is stable to the opposite travelling amplitude when $h_r=\mathrm{Re}h>g_r$. A standing-roll branch has equal squared moduli $r/(g_r+h_r)$, and is stable within this pair when $g_r>h_r$ and $g_r+h_r>0$. The imaginary parts shift angular frequencies. These conditions concern amplitude perturbations in that reduced subspace; orientation and modulation modes still have to be tested. This is the competition of travelling and standing convection rolls.

Near simultaneous stationary and oscillatory thresholds, a codimension-two bifurcation requires retaining both types of mode. After selecting an orientation and fixing a steady spatial phase, a schematic nonresonant steady–Hopf mode interaction isHere $a$ is real, $z$ is the chosen complex oscillatory amplitude, $g_s,h_s$ are real, and $g_o,h_o$ may be complex. Assume $r_s>0$, $g_s>0$ for a radially stable pure steady branch, and $r_o>0$, $g_{o,r}=\mathrm{Re}(g_o)>0$ for a radially stable pure oscillatory branch. Steady convection rolls suppress the oscillatory mode if $r_o-h_{o,r}{r}_s/g_s<0$, where $h_{o,r}=\mathrm{Re}(h_o)$; oscillatory convection rolls suppress the steady mode if $r_s-h_s{r}_o/g_{o,r}<0$. These are transverse tests for branches whose existence and radial stability have already been checked. Mixed states have positive intensities $u=a^2$, $v=|z{|}^2$ solving $g_{s}u+h_{s}v=r_s$, $h_{o,r}u+g_{o,r}v=r_o$. If $D=g_s{g}_{o,r}-h_s{h}_{o,r}\ne 0$, then $u=(r_s{g}_{o,r}-h_s{r}_o)/D$, $v=(g_s{r}_o-h_{o,r}{r}_s)/D$. For positive $u,v$ and the positive self-saturation coefficients above, the intensity Jacobian matrix has negative trace and determinant $4uvD$, so the mixed state is attracting in intensities when $D>0$ and is a saddle equilibrium when $D<0$; phase and other-mode perturbations remain separate tests. Depending on the cross-couplings, one obtains coexistence or competition and bistability; degeneracies or resonances require extra terms. A full travelling/standing-wave competition must retain both $Z_{\pm }$, not just this illustrative one-mode $z$. If the Hopf angular frequency tends to zero, averaging over fast oscillations fails and a double-zero normal form must keep the corresponding two slow variables. A crossing of global minima at distinct wavenumbers is instead an interaction of distinct modes, not automatically the same double-zero problem.

Weakly nonlinear convection rolls can also lose stability spatially. The real Ginzburg–Landau equation $A_T=rA+\xi A_{XX}-g|A{|}^{2}A$, with $r,\xi ,g>0$, has detuned convection rolls with $|A{|}^2=(r-\xi Q^2)/g$. Linear phase modulation gives diffusion coefficient $\xi (r-3\xi Q^2)/(r-\xi Q^2)$, so the Eckhaus instability excludes $Q^2>r/(3\xi )$ even though convection rolls exist up to $Q^2<r/\xi$. Transverse bending and mean-flow couplings impose additional restrictions in the actual rotating layer; the scalar equation is a local longitudinal example, not its complete stability theory.

Most distinctively, rotation breaks mirror symmetry between competing convection roll orientations. For two sets of convection rolls at relative angle $\vartheta$, write ${\dot{A}}_2=r{A}_2-g_0|A_2{|}^2{A}_2-g(\vartheta )|A_1{|}^2{A}_2$ and interchange indices with $\vartheta \mapsto -\vartheta$ for the other equation. The established convection roll $|A_1{|}^2=r/g_0$ is unstable to the new orientation when its linear growth rate $r[1-g(\vartheta )/g_0]$ is positive. The inequality need not be symmetric under $\vartheta \mapsto -\vartheta$ because the imposed rotation supplies handedness. This is the Küppers–Lortz instability: sufficiently rapid rotation can destabilize steady convection rolls immediately above their stationary onset to oblique convection rolls of another orientation. Successive replacements can produce time-dependent convection roll switching or heteroclinic cycles, instead of a stable single convection roll pattern. It requires three-dimensional perturbations even when the original convection roll solution is independent of its axial coordinate.

At finite Prandtl number and stress-free plates, nearly parallel convection rolls can couple resonantly to a slowly damped large-scale Eulerian mean flow. This small-angle instability of rotating convection rolls makes a regular two-roll expansion nonuniform as the angle tends to zero; one must retain the mean-flow mode. It should not be identified automatically with the finite-angle Küppers–Lortz instability or assigned a universal threshold from a one-amplitude equation. Consequently the onset type and selected scale follow from the admissible neutral curves, while persistent convection roll patterns require a separate nonlinear and sideband stability calculation.