Smoothing Estimates for Boltzmann Equation with Full-range Interactions: Spatially Inhomogeneous Case

In this paper, we study the regularity of the solution to the Boltzmann equation with full-range interactions but for the spatially inhomogeneous case. Under the initial regularity assumption on the solution itself, we show that the solution will become immediately smooth for all the variables as long as the time is far way from zero. Our strategy relies upon the new upper and lower bounds for the collision operator established in Chen and He (Arch Ration Mech Anal 201(2):501–548, 2011), a hypo-elliptic estimate for the transport equation and the element energy method.     

Smoothing Estimates for Boltzmann Equation with Full-Range Interactions: Spatially Homogeneous Case

In this work, we are concerned with the regularities of the solutions to the Boltzmann equation with physical collision kernels for the full range of intermolecular repulsive potentials, r ^−(p−1) with p > 2. We give new and constructive upper and lower bounds for the collision operator in terms of standard weighted fractional Sobolev norms. As an application, we get the global entropy dissipation estimate which is a little stronger than that described by Alexandre et al. (Arch Rational Mech Anal 152(4):327–355, 2000). As another application, we prove the smoothing effects for the strong solutions constructed by Desvillettes and Mouhot (Arch Rational Mech Anal 193(2):227–253, 2009) of the spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation with “true” hard potential and “true” moderately soft potential.     

Stability and Uniqueness for the Spatially Homogeneous Boltzmann Equation with Long-Range Interactions

In this paper, we prove some a priori stability estimates (in weighted Sobolev spaces) for the spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation without angular cutoff (covering all physical collision kernels). These estimates are conditional on some regularity estimates on the solutions, and therefore reduce the stability and uniqueness issue to one of proving suitable regularity bounds on the solutions. We then prove such regularity bounds for a class of interactions including the so-called (non-cutoff and non-mollified) hard potentials and moderately soft potentials. In particular, we obtain the first result of global existence and uniqueness for these long-range interactions.     

The Acoustic Limit for the Boltzmann Equation

The acoustic equations are the linearization of the compressible Euler equations about a spatially homogeneous fluid state. We first derive them directly from the Boltzmann equation as the formal limit of moment equations for an appropriately scaled family of Boltzmann solutions. We then establish this limit for the Boltzmann equation considered over a periodic spatial domain for bounded collision kernels. Appropriately scaled families of DiPerna-Lions renormalized solutions are shown to have fluctuations that converge entropically (and hence strongly in L ¹) to a unique limit governed by a solution of the acoustic equations for all time, provided that its initial fluctuations converge entropically to an appropriate limit associated to any given L ² initial data of the acoustic equations. The associated local conservation laws are recovered in the limit. Accepted: October 22, 1999     

L 1 and BV-type stability of the inelastic Boltzmann equation near vacuum

The L ¹ and BV-type stability to mild solutions of the inelastic Boltzmann equation is given in this paper. The result is an extension of the stability of the classical solution of the elastic Boltzmann equation proved in Ha (Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 173:25–42, 2004 [16]). The observation relies on the energy loss of the inelastic Boltzmann equation. This is a continuity work of Alonso (Indiana Univ. Math. J. [1]), where the author obtained the global existence of a mild solution for the inelastic Boltzmann equation. The proof is based on the mollification method and constructing some functionals as the one in Chae and Ha (Contin. Mech. Thermodyn. 17(7):511–524, 2006 [9]).     

L 2-Stability Theory of the Boltzmann Equation near a Global Maxwellian

We present three a priori L ²-stability estimates for classical solutions to the Boltzmann equation with a cut-off inverse power law potential, when initial datum is a perturbation of a global Maxwellian. We show that L ²-stability estimates of classical solutions depend on Strichartz type estimates of perturbations and the non-positive definiteness of the linearized collision operator. Several well known classical solutions to the Boltzmann equation fit our L ²-stability framework.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis><Superscript>1</Superscript> Stability of the Boltzmann Equation for the Hard-Sphere Model

We study the L¹ stability of classical solutions to the Boltzmann equation for a hard-sphere model, when initial datum is a small perturbation of a vacuum, and tends to zero exponentially fast at infinity in the phase space. For this, we introduce nonlinear functionals measuring potential interactions between particles with different velocities and L¹ distance between classical solutions. We use pointwise estimates for a solution and the gain term of a collision operator to control the time-evolution of nonlinear functionals.Dedicated to Marshall Slemrod on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

On Stability and Strong Convergence for the Spatially Homogeneous Boltzmann Equation for Fermi-Dirac Particles

 The paper considers the stability and strong convergence to equilibrium of solutions to the spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation for Fermi-Dirac particles. Under a cutoff condition on the collision kernel, we prove a strong stability in L ¹ topology at any finite time interval, and, for hard and Maxwellian potentials, we prove that the solutions converge strongly in L ¹ to equilibrium under a high temperature condition. The basic tools used are moment-production estimates and the strong compactness of the collision gain term. (Accepted 25, October 2002) Published online March 14, 2003 Communicated by P.-L. Lions     

Homogenization of scalar wave equations with hysteresis

The paper deals with a scalar wave equation of the form where is a Prandtl–Ishlinskii operator and are given functions. This equation describes longitudinal vibrations of an elastoplastic rod. The mass density and the Prandtl–Ishlinskii distribution function are allowed to depend on the space variable x. We prove existence, uniqueness and regularity of solution to a corresponding initial-boundary value problem. The system is then homogenized by considering a sequence of equations of the above type with spatially periodic data and , where the spatial period tends to 0. We identify the homogenized limits and and prove the convergence of solutions to the solution of the homogenized equation. Received June 17, 1999     

Kinetics of a Model Weakly Ionized Plasma in the Presence of Multiple Equilibria

We study, globally in time, the velocity distribution f(v,t) of a spatially homogeneous system that models a system of electrons in a weakly ionized plasma, subjected to a constant external electric field E. The density f satisfies a Boltzmann-type kinetic equation containing a fully nonlinear electron‐electron collision term as well as linear terms representing collisions with reservoir particles having a specified Maxwellian distribution. We show that when the constant in front of the nonlinear collision kernel, thought of as a scaling parameter, is sufficiently strong, then the L ¹ distance between f and a certain time-dependent Maxwellian stays small uniformly in t. Moreover, the mean and variance of this time‐dependent Maxwellian satisfy a coupled set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations that constitute the “hydrodynamical” equations for this kinetic system. This remains true even when these ordinary differential equations have non‐unique equilibria, thus proving the existence of multiple stable stationary solutions for the full kinetic model. Our approach relies on scale‐independent estimates for the kinetic equation, and entropy production estimates. The novel aspects of this approach may be useful in other problems concerning the relation between the kinetic and hydrodynamic scales globally in time. (Accepted September 3, 1996)     

Optimal Time Decay of the Vlasov–Poisson–Boltzmann System in $${\mathbb R^3}$$

The Vlasov–Poisson–Boltzmann System governs the time evolution of the distribution function for dilute charged particles in the presence of a self-consistent electric potential force through the Poisson equation. In this paper, we are concerned with the rate of convergence of solutions to equilibrium for this system over \mathbb R³{\mathbb R^3}. It is shown that the electric field, which is indeed responsible for the lowest-order part in the energy space, reduces the speed of convergence, hence the dispersion of this system over the full space is slower than that of the Boltzmann equation without forces; the exact L ²-rate for the former is (1 + t)^−1/4 while it is (1 + t)^−3/4 for the latter. For the proof, in the linearized case with a given non-homogeneous source, Fourier analysis is employed to obtain time-decay properties of the solution operator. In the nonlinear case, the combination of the linearized results and the nonlinear energy estimates with the help of the proper Lyapunov-type inequalities leads to the optimal time-decay rate of perturbed solutions under some conditions on initial data.     

From Boltzmann’s Equation to the Incompressible Navier–Stokes–Fourier System with Long-Range Interactions

We establish a rigorous demonstration of the hydrodynamic convergence of the Boltzmann equation towards a Navier–Stokes–Fourier system under the presence of long-range interactions. This convergence is obtained by letting the Knudsen number tend to zero and has been known to hold, at least formally, for decades. It is only more recently that a fully rigorous mathematical derivation of this hydrodynamic limit was discovered. However, these results failed to encompass almost all physically relevant collision kernels due to a cutoff assumption, which requires that the cross sections be integrable. Indeed, as soon as long-range intermolecular forces are present, non-integrable collision kernels have to be considered because of the enormous number of grazing collisions in the gas. In this long-range setting, the Boltzmann operator becomes a singular integral operator and the known rigorous proofs of hydrodynamic convergence simply do not carry over to that case. In fact, the DiPerna–Lions renormalized solutions do not even make sense in this situation and the relevant global solutions to the Boltzmann equation are the so-called renormalized solutions with a defect measure developed by Alexandre and Villani. Our work overcomes the new mathematical difficulties coming from the consideration of long-range interactions by proving the hydrodynamic convergence of the Alexandre–Villani solutions towards the Leray solutions.     

Stability and exponential convergence for the Boltzmann equation

We prove existence, uniqueness and stability for solutions of the nonlinear Boltzmann equation in a periodic box in the case when the initial data are sufficiently close to a spatially homogeneous function. The results are given for a range of spaces, including L ¹, and extend previous results in L for the non-homogeneous equation, as well as the more developed L ^p -theory for the spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation.We also give new L -estimates for the spatially homogeneous equation in the case of Maxwellian interactions.     

A new approach for the ellipsoidal statistical model

In this paper we aim to introduce a systematic way to derive relaxation terms for the Boltzmann equation based on the minimization problem for the entropy under moments constraints (Levermore in J. Stat. Phys. 83:1021–1065, 1996; Schneider in M2AN 38:541–561, 2004). In particular the moment constraints and corresponding coefficients are linked with the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of the linearized collision operator through the Chapman–Enskog expansion. Then we deduce from this expansion a single relaxation term of BGK type. Here we stop the moments constraints at order two in the velocity v and recover the ellipsoidal statistical model (Holway in Rarefied Gas Dynamics, vol I, pp 193–215, 1966).      

Global Lp-properties for the spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation

This paper studies the L ^p-behavior for 1p of solutions of the nonlinear, spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation for a class of collision kernels including inverse k ^th-power forces with k>5 and angular cut-off. The following topics are treated: differentiability in L ^p together with global boundedness in time for L ^p-moments that exist initially, translation continuity in L ^p uniformly in time, and strong convergence to equilibrium.     

High-order hybridisable discontinuous Galerkin method for the gas kinetic equation

ABSTRACT

The high-order hybridisable discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method is used to find steady-state solution of gas kinetic equations on two-dimensional geometry. The velocity distribution function and its traces are approximated in piecewise polynomial space on triangular mesh and mesh skeleton, respectively. By employing a numerical flux derived from the upwind scheme and imposing its continuity on mesh skeleton, the global system for unknown traces is obtained with fewer coupled degrees of freedom, compared to the original DG method. The solutions of model equation for the Poiseuille flow through square channel show the higher order solver is faster than the lower order one. Moreover, the HDG scheme is more efficient than the original DG method when the degree of approximating polynomial is larger than 2. Finally, the developed scheme is extended to solve the Boltzmann equation with full collision operator, which can produce accurate results for shear-driven and thermally induced flows.     

Boundary value problems for a model Boltzmann equation with frequency proportional to the molecule velocity

Exact solutions of a model Boltzmann equation with a collision frequency that depends on the molecule velocity and with a BGK (Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook) collision operator are constructed for the problems of weak evaporation and temperature jump in a rarefied vapor above a plane surface. The numerical calculations and a comparison with previous results are given.Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 3, pp. 140–153, May–June, 1996.     

Decay and Continuity of the Boltzmann Equation in Bounded Domains

Boundaries occur naturally in kinetic equations, and boundary effects are crucial for dynamics of dilute gases governed by the Boltzmann equation. We develop a mathematical theory to study the time decay and continuity of Boltzmann solutions for four basic types of boundary conditions: in-flow, bounce-back reflection, specular reflection and diffuse reflection. We establish exponential decay in the L ^∞ norm for hard potentials for general classes of smooth domains near an absolute Maxwellian. Moreover, in convex domains, we also establish continuity for these Boltzmann solutions away from the grazing set at the boundary. Our contribution is based on a new L ² decay theory and its interplay with delicate L ^∞ decay analysis for the linearized Boltzmann equation in the presence of many repeated interactions with the boundary.     

Global Well-Posedness in Spatially Critical Besov Space for the Boltzmann Equation

The unique global strong solution in the Chemin–Lerner type space to the Cauchy problem on the Boltzmann equation for hard potentials is constructed in a perturbation framework. Such a solution space is of critical regularity with respect to the spatial variable, and it can capture the intrinsic properties of the Boltzmann equation. For the proof of global well-posedness, we develop some new estimates on the nonlinear collision term through the Littlewood–Paley theory.     

Approximate kinetic equations in rarefied gas theory

The fundamental kinetic equation of gas theory, the Boltzniann equation, is a complex integrodiffcrential equation. The difficulties associated with its solution are the result not only of the large number of independent variables, seven in the general case, but also of the very complicated structure of the collision integral. However, for the mechanics of rarefied gases the primary interest lies not in the distribution function itself, which satisfies the Boltzmann equation, but rather in its first few moments, i.e., the averaged characteristics. This circumstance suggests the possibility of obtaining the averaged quantities by a simpler way than the direct method of direct solution of the Boltzmann equation with subsequent calculation of the integrals.It is well known that if a distribution function satisfies the Boltzmann equation, then its moments satisfy an infinite system of moment equations. Consequently, if we wish to obtain with satisfactory accuracy some number of first moments, then we must require that these moments satisfy the exact system of moment equations. However, this does not mean that to determine the moments of interest to us we must solve this system, particularly since the system of moment equations is not closed. The closure of the system by specifying the form of the distribution function (method of moments) can be considered only as a rough approximate method of solving problems. First, in this case it is not possible to satisfy all the equations and we must limit ourselves to certain of the equations; second, generally speaking, we do not know which equation the selected distribution function satisfies, and, consequently, we do not know to what degree it has the properties of the distribution function which satisfies the Boltzmann equation.A more reliable technique for solving the problems of rarefied gasdynamics is that based on the approximation of the Boltzmann equation, more precisely, the approximation of the collision integral. The idea of replacing the collision integral by a simpler expression is not new [1–4]. The kinetic equations obtained as a result of this replacement are usually termed model equations, since their derivation is usually based on physical arguments and not on the direct use of the properties of the Boltzmann collision integral. In this connection we do not know to what degree the solutions of the Boltzmann equation and the model equations are close, particularly since the latter do not yield the possibility of refining the solution. Exceptions are the kinetic model for the linearized Boltzmann equation [5] and the sequence of model equations of [6], constructed by a method which is to some degree analogous with that of [5].In the present paper we suggest for the simplification of the solution of rarefied gas mechanics problems a technique for constructing a sequence of approximate kinetic equations which is based on an approximation of the collision integral. For each approximate equation (i.e., equation with an approximate collision operator) the first few moment equations coincide with the exact moment equations. It is assumed that the accuracy of the approximate equation increases with increase of the number of exact moment equations. Concretely, the approximation for the collision integral consists of a suitable approximation of the reverse collision integral and the collision frequency. The reverse collision integral is represented in the form of the product of the collision frequency and a function which characterizes the molecular velocity distribution resulting from the collisions, where the latter is selected in the form of a locally Maxwellian function multiplied by a polynomial in terms of the components of the molecular proper velocities. The collision frequency is approximated by a suitable expression which depends on the problem conditions. For the majority of problems it may obviously be taken equal to the collision frequency calculated from the locally Maxwellian distribution function; if necessary the error resulting from the inexact calculation of the collision frequency may be reduced by iterations.To illustrate the method, we solve the simplest problem of rarefied gas theory-the problem on the relaxation of an initially homogeneous and isotropic distribution in an unbounded space to an equilibrium distribution.The author wishes to thank A. A. Nikol'skii for discussions of the study and V. A. Rykov for the numerical results presented for the exact solution.