THERMODYNAMIC AND STOCHASTIC-THEORY OF REACTION-DIFFUSION SYSTEMS WITH MULTIPLE STATIONARY STATES

The thermodynamic and stochastic theory of chemical systems far from e quilibrium is extended to reactions in inhomogeneous system for both s ingle and multiple intermediates, with multiple stationary states coup led with linear diffusion. The theory is applied to the two variable S elkov model coupled with diffusion, in particular to the issue of rela tive stability of two stable homogeneous stationary states as tested i n a possible inhomogeneous experimental configuration. The thermodynam ic theory predicts equistability of such states when the excess work f rom one stationary state to the stable inhomogeneous concentration pro file equals the excess work from the other stable stationary state. Th e predictions of the theory on the conditions for relative stability a re consistent with solutions of the deterministic reaction-diffusion e quations. In the following article we apply the theory again to the is sue of relative stability for single-variable systems, and make compar ison with numerical solutions of the reaction-diffusion equations for the Schlogl model, and with experiments on an optically bistable syste m where the kinetic variable is temperature and the transport mechanis m is thermal conduction.