Entropy solutions for linearly degenerate hyperbolic systems of rich type

Consider a linearly degenerate hyperbolic system of rich type. Assuming that each eigenvalue of the system has a constant multiplicity, we construct a representation formula of entropy solutions in L^∞ to the Cauchy problem. This formula depends on the solution of an autonomous system of ordinary differential equations taking x as parameter. We prove that for smooth initial data, the Cauchy problem for such an autonomous system admits a unique global solution. By using this formula together with classical compactness arguments, we give a very simple proof on the global existence of entropy solutions. Moreover, in a particular case of the system, we obtain an another explicit expression and the uniqueness of the entropy solution. Applications include the one-dimensional Born–Infeld system and linear Lagrangian systems.