ANALYSIS OF BIFURCATIONS AND STABILITY PROPERTIES OF MOLECULAR-SYSTEMS

The dynamics and stability of a three-dimensional model of dissipative molecular systems are studied in detail. The model considered is prod uced by an approximate quantum formulation, and it contains two parame ters. It has been demonstrated analytically that the system exhibits ' cusp catastrophe' as in the case of potential systems; however, the no n-potential nature of the dissipative model is reflected by the existe nce of limit cycles bifurcating from the equilibrium surface. The crit ical lines in the parameter plane and the family of limit cycles bifur cating from equilibria are determined analytically, and it has been sh own that they are unstable.