Exact solutions of the nonlinear Boltzmann equation and the theory of relaxation of a Maxwellian gas (Q1058928)

A review is presented of recent results on the spatially homogeneous nonlinear Boltzmann equation for Maxwellian molecules. The theory is based on Fourier transformation with respect to the velocity, which introduces much simplification. Symmetry properties and self-similar solutions, relaxation rates (t\(\to \infty)\) and formation of Maxwellian tails (\(| v| \to \infty)\) are discussed. Finally an analytic transformation from the nonlinear to the linear problem is presented. This is used to construct families of special solutions and a countable set of invariants.