Solution of a linearized kinetic model for an ultrarelativistic gas

A linearized model of the Boltzmann equation for a relativistic gas is shown to be reducible, in the ultrarelativistic limit and for (1 + 1)-dimensional problems, to a system of three uncoupled transport equations, one of which is well known. A general method for solving these equations is recalled, with a few new details, and applied to the solution of two boundary value problems. The first of these describes the propagation of an impulsive change in a half space and is shown to give an explicit example of the recently proved result that no signal can propagate with speed larger than the speed of light, according to the relativistic Boltzmann equation. The second problem deals with steady oscillations in a half space and illustrates the meaning of certain recent results concerning the dispersion relation for linear waves in relativistic gas.