The bobylev approach to the nonlinear Boltzmann equation

The Bobylev approach to the nonlinear Boltzmann equation is reviewed. The linearized problem is discussed and it is shown that eigenfunctions decaying like a negative power of the velocity are possible with Maxwell molecules only. The relaxation to equilibrium according to the nonlinear equation is discussed and the Krook-Wu conjecture on the status of the BKW mode is shown to be false in general. The buildup of the high-energy tails is considered and a phenomenon observed by Tjon is given a simple explanation. Finally, the method is illustrated with numerical calculations performed for two sets of initial conditions.     

On weak and strong convergence to equilibrium for solutions to the linear Boltzmann equation

This paper considers the linear space-inhomogeneous Boltzmann equation for a distribution function in a bounded domain with general boundary conditions together with an external potential force. The paper gives results on strong convergence to equilibrium, whent, for general initial data; first in the cutoff case, and then for infinite-range collision forces. The proofs are based on the properties of translation continuity and weak convergence to equilibrium. To handle these problems generalH-theorems (concerning monotonicity in time of convex entropy functionals) are presented. Furthermore, the paper gives general results on collision invariants, i.e., on functions satisfying detailed balance relations in a binary collision.     

Metrics for probability distributions and the trend to equilibrium for solutions of the Boltzmann equation

This paper deals with the trend to equilibrium of solutions to the spacehomogeneous Boltzmann equation for Maxwellian molecules with angular cutoff as well as with infinite-range forces. The solutions are considered as densities of probability distributions. The Tanaka functional is a metric for the space of probability distributions, which has previously been used in connection with the Boltzmann equation. Our main result is that, if the initial distribution possesses moments of order 2+, then the convergence to equilibrium in his metric is exponential in time. In the proof, we study the relation between several metrics for spaces of probability distributions, and relate this to the Boltzmann equation, by proving that the Fourier-transformed solutions are at least as regular as the Fourier transform of the initial data. This is also used to prove that even if the initial data only possess a second moment, then _v>R f(v, t) v² dv0 asR, and this convergence is uniform in time.     

A Boltzmann equation approach to transport in finite modular quantum systems

We investigate the transport behavior of finite modular quantum systems. Such systems have recently been analyzed by different methods. These approaches indicate diffusive behavior even and especially for finite systems. Inspired by these results we analyze analytically and numerically if and in which sense the dynamics of those systems are in agreement with an appropriate Boltzmann equation. We find that the transport behavior of a certain type of finite modular quantum systems may indeed be described in terms of a Boltzmann equation. However, the applicability of the Boltzmann equation appears to be rather limited to a very specific type of model.     

Trend to equilibrium of weak solutions of the Boltzmann equation in a slab with diffusive boundary conditions

Recently R. Illner and the author proved that, under a physically realistic truncation on the collision kernel, the Boltzmann equation in the one-dimensional slab [0, 1] with general diffusive boundary conditions at 0 and 1 has a global weak solution in the traditional sense. Here it is proved that when the Maxwellians associated with the boundary conditions atx=0 andx=1 are the same MaxwellianM _w , then the solution is uniformly bounded and tends toM _w fort.     

Strict entropy production bounds and stability of the rate of convergence to equilibrium for the Boltzmann equation

We first consider the Boltzmann equation with a collision kernel such that all kinematically possible collisions are run at equal rates. This is the simplest Boltzmann equation having the compressible Euler equations as a scaling limit. For it we prove a stability result for theH-theorem which says that when the entropy production is small, the solution of the spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation is necessarily close to equilibrium in the entropie sense, and therefore strongL ¹ sense. We use this to prove that solutions to the spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation converge to equilibrium in the entropie sense with a rate of convergence which is uniform in the initial condition for all initial conditions belonging to certain natural regularity classes. Every initial condition with finite entropy andp ^th velocity moment for some p>2 belongs to such a class. We then extend these results by a simple monotonicity argument to the case where the collision rate is uniformly bounded below, which covers a wide class of slightly modified physical collision kernels. These results are the basis of a study of the relation between scaling limits of solutions of the Boltzmann equation and hydrodynamics which will be developed in subsequent papers; the program is described here.On leave from School of Mathematics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332.On leave from C.F.M.C. and Departamento de Matemática da Faculdade de Ciencias de Lisboa, 1700 Lisboa codex, Portugal.     

The homogeneous Boltzmann hierarchy and statistical solutions to the homogeneous Boltzmann equation

An existence and uniqueness result for the homogeneous Boltzmann hierarchy is proven, by exploiting the statistical solutions to the homogeneous Boltzmann equation.     

A cluster expansion approach to a one-dimensional Boltzmann equation: A validity result

We consider a stochastic particle system on the line and prove that, when the number of particles diverges and the probability of a collision is suitably rescaled, the system is well described by a one-dimensional Boltzmann equation. The result holds globally in time, without any smallness assumption.     

The Boltzmann equation

An abstract form of the spatially non-homogeneous Boltzmann equation is derived which includes the usual, more concrete form for any kind of potential, hard or soft, with finite cutoff. It is assumed that the corresponding gas is confined to a bounded domain by some sort of reflection law. The problem then considered is the corresponding initial-boundary value problem, locally in time.Two proofs of existence are given. Both are constructive, and the first, at least, provides two sequences, one converging to the solution from above, the other from below, thus producing, at the same time as existence, approximations to the solution and error bounds for the approximation.The solution is found within a space of functions bounded by a multiple of a Maxwellian, and, in this space, uniqueness is also proved.Research supported, in part, by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC A8560)     

Iterative solution of the Boltzmann equation

We define an iterative scheme to solve the nonlinear Boltzmann equation. Conservation rules are maintained at each iterative step. We apply this method to a spatially uniform and isotropic velocity distribution function on the Maxwell and very-hard-particle models. A particular example is evaluated and results are compared with the exact solution. It shows to be a very fast convergent approach.     

Two generalizations of the Boltzmann equation

We connect two different extensions of Boltzmann's kinetic theory by requiring the same stationary solution. Non-extensive statistics can be produced by either using corresponding collision rates nonlinear in the one-particle densities or equivalently by using nontrivial energy composition rules in the energy conservation constraint part. Direct transformation formulas between key functions of the two approaches are given.     

Temperature transform of the Boltzmann equation

We define an integral transform of the energy distribution function for an isotropic and homogeneous diluted gas. It may be interpreted as a linear combination of equilibrium states with variable temperatures. We show that the temporal evolution features of the distribution function are determined by the singularities of this temperature transform. We compare the relaxation to the equilibrium process for Maxwell and very hard-particle interaction models, finding many basic discrepancies. Finally, we formulate an alternative approach, which is given by anN-pole approximation with a clear physical meaning.Fellow of the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnólogico, Brazil.     

Nonisotropic solutions of the Boltzmann equation

We consider the relaxation to equilibrium of a spatially uniform Maxwellian gas. We expand the solution of the nonlinear Boltzmann equation in a truncated series of orthogonal functions. We integrate numerically the equation for non-isotropic initial conditions. For certain simple conditions we find interesting proximity effects and other transient relaxation phenomena at thermal energies. Furthermore, we define a resummation of the orthogonal expansion which is more convenient than the original one for the numerical analysis of the relaxation process.     

On the Boltzmann equation in unbounded space far from equilibrium,and the limit of zero mean free path

This paper studies Loeb solutions of the Boltzmann equation in unbounded space under natural initial conditions of finite mass, energy, and entropy. An existence theory for large initial data is presented. Maxwellian behaviour is obtained in the limits of zero mean free path and of infinite time. In the standard, space-homogeneous, hard potential case, the infinite time limit is of strongL ¹ type.     

On the fluid-dynamical approximation to the Boltzmann equation at the level of the Navier-Stokes equation

The compressible and heat-conductive Navier-Stokes equation obtained as the second approximation of the formal Chapman-Enskog expansion is investigated on its relations to the original nonlinear Boltzmann equation and also to the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation. The solutions of the Boltzmann equation and the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation for small initial data are proved to be asymptotically equivalent (mod decay ratet ^–5/4) ast+ to that of the compressible Navier-Stokes equation for the corresponding initial data.     

Boltzmann equation with fluctuations

From the Liouville equation, by the method of multiple-time-scales, a generalized Boltzmann-equation with fluctuations is obtained on the statistical considerations of the randomness of the many-particle correlations in the macroscopic picture. These fluctuations lead to anH theorem in which theH function decreases, with fluctuations with time toward equilibrium. These fluctuations furnish a source for a random force term introduced by Fox and Uhlenbeck in the Boltzmann equation.