Lp-estimates for the nonlinear spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation

This paper studies L^p-estimates for solutions of the nonlinear, spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation. The molecular forces considered include inverse k^th-power forces with k > 5 and angular cut-off.The main conclusions are the following. Let f be the unique solution of the Boltzmann equation with f(v,t)(1 + ¦v²¦)^(s₁^{+ /p)/2} L¹, when the initial value f₀ satisfies f₀(v) 0, f₀(v) (1 + ¦v¦²)^(s₁^{+ /p)/2} L¹, for some s₁ 2 + /p, and f₀(v) (1 + ¦v¦²)^s/2 L^p. If s 2/p and 1 < p < , then f(v, t)(1 + ¦v¦²)^{(s s}₁)^/2 L^p, t > 0. If s >2 and 3/(1+ ) < p < , thenf(v,t) (1 + ¦v¦²)^(s(s₁^{+ 3/p))/2} L^p, t > 0. If s >2 + 2C₀/C₁ and 3/(l + ) < p < , then f(v,t)(1 + ¦v¦²)^s/2 L^p, t > 0. Here 1/p + 1/p = 1, x y = min (x, y), and C₀, C₁, 0 < 1, are positive constants related to the molecular forces under consideration; = (k – 5)/ (k – 1) for k^th-power forces.Some weaker conclusions follow when 1 < p 3/ (1 + ).In the proofs some previously known L-estimates are extended. The results for L^p, 1 < p < , are based on these L-estimates coupled with nonlinear interpolation.