Scattering theory relevant to the linear transport of particle swarms

The long-time behavior of the velocity distribution of a spatially uniform diluted guest population of charged particles moving within a host medium under the influence of a D.C. electric field is studied within the framework of scattering theory. We prove the existence of wave and scattering operators for a simplified one-dimensional model of the linearized Boltzmann equation. The theory is applied to the study of the long-term behavior of electrons and the occurrence of traveling waves in runaway processes.     

Functional methods in three-dimensional neutron transport theory

Summary In this work, we are concerned with the stationary neutron transport Boltzmann equation (in its integral form) in a parallelepiped. Functional methods allow us to prove that the integral transport operator, which is defined in L² space, has eigenvalues depending continuously and monotonically on geometrical and physical parameters. We show that the eigenfunctions are continuous with respect to set of the spatial variables and the optical parameters. Finally, we remark that the same results are valid if the study is carried out in the Banach space C.

---

Sommario In questo lavoro consideriamo l'equazione stazionaria di Boltzmann (nella forma integrale) per neutroni monoenergetici nel caso di un sistema tridimensionale a forma di parallelepipedo. L'uso di alcuni metodi dell'analisi funzionale ci permette di provare che l'operatore integrale del trasporto, definito nello spazio L², ha autovalori che dipendono continuamente dai parametri geometrici e fisici. Si prova che le autofunzioni sono continue rispetto all'insieme delle variabili spaziali e dei parametri ottici. Infine, si osserva che gli stessi risultati sono validi se l'operatore del trasporto agisce nello spazio di Banach C.

---

---

Work performed under contract C.N.R. (Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica Matematica).     

Different Approaches for Multiband Transport in Semiconductors

We compare the well-known Kane model with a new multiband envelope function model, which presents many advantages with respect to the first one. __________ Published in Ukrains'kyi Matematychnyi Zhurnal, Vol. 57, No. 6, pp. 742–748, June, 2005.     

Some applications of functional analysis to problems of neutron transport

Ritz method is used to obtain an approximate solution of the stationary neutron transport Boltzmann equation in its integral form in plane and spherical symmetry. Such a method is based on the maximum property of the quadratic form corresponding to a symmetric transformation in a finite dimensional subspace spanned by the firstn functions of a complete orthonormal set. In order to justify some numerical results, we also show that the transport operators are compact as acting both on the spaceC and on the spaceL ₂. Moreover, we investigate some properties of the solution and we prove that the neutron distribution is not increasing as a function of the spatial coordinate. Finally, a series of calculations have been performed for various values of the system-dimensions measured in mean-free-paths and the number of secondaries per conllision to maintain the system critical has been found.     

A stationary criticality problem in generalL p -space for energy dependent neutron transport in cylindrical geometry

The energy-dependent neutron transport integral equation in a homogeneous cylinder of radiusR and infinite height with isotropic scattering is studied as an abstract equationf=K f in the spaceL ₁((0, 1)×(E _m ,E _M )). By means of techniques based on the theory of positive operators in Banach spaces, we prove that the eigenvalue problem for the integral operatorK admits as a solution a unique a. e. positive eigenfunction to which the leading eigenvalue _o corresponds.After establishing continuity and strictly increasing monotonicity of _o inR we discuss and solve the criticality problem under the assumption of subcriticality for a non-multiplying medium.The formulation of the eigenvalue problem forK is finally extended to anyL _p space, 1p< . Recalling thatK is a Riesz operator inL _p , we prove, as a general result, that the spectrum ofK, acting onL _p , is independent ofp.

---

Résumé On étudie un faisceau de neutrons d'une énergieE (comprise entre deux bornesM _e ), dans un cylindre de rayon 0rR de hauteur infinie; on considère la diffraction comme isotrope. L'èquation intègrale du transport de neutrons est formuleeé abstraitement parf=K f, oùK est un opèrateur dans l'espaceL ₁ (r,E) des fonctions intégrables. La théorie des opérateurs positifs dans les espaces de Banach nous permet de démontrer que l'opérateur intégralK possède une fonction propre unique, positive presque partout, correspondant à la valeur propre dominante _o.Après avoir démontré que _o est continue et strictement croissante par rapport àR, on discute et résout le problème critique sous une hypothèse bien motivée physiquement.La formulation du problème aux valeurs propres est généralisée dans un espaceL _p ,p quelconque,K étant un opérateur de Riesz; on obtient comme résultat que le spectre deK dansL _p est indépendant dep.

---

---

Work performed under the auspices of C. N. R. (Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica-Matematica) and partially supported by M. P. I.

---

The research leading to this article was completed while the third author was visiting the University of Florence in the summer of 1983.     

Transport equations with boundary conditions of reverse reflection type

A study is performed of transport equations on arbitrary three-dimensional domains with boundary conditions of reverse reflection type. The existence of the dominant eigenvalue of the criticality problem is proved and its independence of the functional setting and its continuous dependence on a variety of data are established. The corresponding time-dependent problem is shown to be well-posed, also for a conservative boundary. The relationship between the criticality and the time-dependent problem is given explicitly.