Sensitivity on nonequilibrium chemical systems to gravitational field

We note that far-from-equilibrium chemical systems can respond very sensitively to gravity. The response could be in selection of possible structures or in the formation of propagating bands. In these cases the sensitivity is characterized by the factor $\text{(E}{}_{\mathrm{g}}\text{/kT)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>n</mtext>}}$, where n=2 or 3, E_g the interaction energy, k the Boltzmann constant and T, the temperature. Also, taking the thermodynamic fluctuations into account, we obtain the theoretical limit for the minimum field strength measurable by such systems.     

Gravity detection through bifurcation.

Bifurcation is a phenomenon in which a physical system is forced to make a choice between one of the several possible states to which it can evolve. In this process the system can become extremely sensitive to very small influences--smaller than the size of the fluctuations--that favor one of the states. A general theory of this sensitivity and a simple model for gravity detection is presented. The difference between systems in thermodynamic equilibrium and those that are far from equilibrium is also discussed.