Geometric singularities for solutions of single conservation laws (Q1374719)

The authors consider the Cauchy problem for a single conservation law. It is well known that, even if the initial data may be sufficiently smooth, the Cauchy problem may not have a classical solution in the large. That is to say, singularities may appear in solutions in finite time. The existence of weak solutions of the Cauchy problem has been already established, for example by \textit{S. N. Kruzkov} [Math. USSR Sb., 10, 217-243 (1970); translation from Mat. Sb., Nov. Ser. 81(123), 228-255 (1970; Zbl 0202.11203)], \textit{P. D. Lax} [Comm. Pure Appl. Math., 10, 537-566 (1957; Zbl 0081.08803)], \textit{O. A. Oleĭnik} [Am. Math. Soc., Transl., II. Ser. 26, 95-172 (1963); translation from Usp. Mat. Nauk., 12, No. 3(75), 3-73 (1957; Zbl 0080.07701)] etc. The aim of this paper is to construct the singularities of weak solutions, especially in the case where equations are not convex. First the authors construct the solutions by the well-known characteristic method. This procedure can be formulated in the framework of ``one-parameter unfoldings of immersions''. Next they project the geometric solution into the base space and get weak solutions with singularities. Here they need to study the generic property of singularities of the projection.