Real Ginzburg–Landau equation ($A_T=rA+\xi A_{XX}-g|A{|}^{2}A$)

The real-coefficient Ginzburg–Landau amplitude equation has complex $A$ and real parameters, usually $\xi ,g>0$ near a supercritical stationary pattern onset. A detuned plane wave $A=\rho e^{iQX}$ has ${\rho }^2=(r-\xi Q^2)/g$. Its phase and amplitude sidebands determine the narrower Eckhaus instability stability band. It is a local envelope model; additional conserved fields or mean flows may need their own equations.

For $r,\xi ,g>0$, longitudinal phase modulation of a detuned convection roll yields diffusion coefficient $D_{\varphi }=\xi (r-3\xi Q^2)/(r-\xi Q^2)$. The expression follows by eliminating the fast amplitude correction from the coupled linear amplitude-phase equations at small modulation wavenumber. Thus convection rolls become unstable for $Q^2>r/(3\xi )$ although they exist for $Q^2<r/\xi$. At the boundary the leading phase diffusion vanishes and higher spatial orders matter.