TRANSFER FUNCTION ANALYSIS OF AN OSCILLATORY MODEL CHEMICAL SYSTEM

Oscillation occurring in the time course of a particular model reaction system is examined, utilizing the transfer function method of analysis developed in a previous paper. System properties predicted by the analytic technique correspond with those observed in analog computer solutions of the kinetic equations describing the system. The transfer function approach provides kinetic criteria for the existence of oscillation in terms of loop gain and phase shift, and elucidates the relation between oscillation and Instability, or flip-flop behavior. Although formulated to be biologically feasible, the model oscillating system is purely hypothetical, and is presented primar fly as a basis for the development of general principles concerning periodicity and instability in complex reaction systems.