The Boltzmann equation: global existence for a rare gas in an infinite vacuum (Q1080737)

Global existence is proved for solutions of the Boltzmann equation for initial data consisting of a finite volume of gas with vacuum at infinity. The mean free path must be sufficiently large. It is proved that the density of the gas goes to zero. The method uses integration along particle paths and an earlier approach of \textit{S. Kaniel} and the second author [e.g.: J. Mec. 19, 581-593 (1980; Zbl 0455.76071)]. This is an important advance in the subject.