Convergence to equilibrium for the discrete coagulation-fragmentation equations with detailed balance (Q2465212)

The author obtains the equilibrium distribution to which the solutions of the discrete coagulation-fragmentation system of equations \[ \frac{d}{dt}c_j= \frac 12 \sum_{k=1}^{j-1}W_{j-k,k}-\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}W_{j,k}, \qquad j\geq 1 \] where \[ W_{i,j}=a_{i,j}c_ic_j-b_{i,j}c_{i+j}, \qquad i,j \geq1 \] converge for long times under some conditions on the coagulation and fragmentation coefficients \(a_{i,j}\) and \(b_{i,j}\) and the condition of detailed balance. His result shows a qualitative difference in the behavior of the solutions, depending on the relationship between the mass of the solution \(\rho\), given by \(\rho (t)=\sum_{i\geq 1} ic_{i} (t)\) and a critical mass \(\rho_s\), thus confirming and extending results obtained for the Becker-Döring equations and their generalized version, which constitute particular cases of the discrete coagulation-fragmentation equations. If \(\rho > \rho_s\) then the solution converges weakly to the only equilibrium distribution with mass \(\rho_s\), while if \(\rho \leq \rho_s\) the solution converges strongly to the only equilibrium distribution with mass \(\rho\).