Marcus-Lushnikov processes, Smoluchowski's and Flory's models (Q1001844)

The paper studies the connection between a stochastic coalescence model, the Marcus-Lushnikov process, and two deterministic coagulation equations, the Smoluchowski and Flory equations. The Marcus-Lushnikov process is a finite stochastic particle system in which each particle is entirely characterized by its mass. Each pair of particles with masses \(x\) and \(y\) merges into a single particle at a given rate \(K(x,y)\). The paper studies strongly gelling kernels behaving as \(K(x,y) = x^\alpha y + x y^\alpha\) for some \(\alpha \in (0,1]\). For such kernels it is well-known that gelation occurs, i.e.\ giant particles emerge. Two possible models for the hydrodynamic limit as the number of particles goes to infinity arise: the Smoluchowski equation, in which the giant particles are inert, and the Flory equation, in which the giant particles interact with the finite ones. The paper shows these limits in the Skorokhod topology using a suitable cut-off coagulation kernel in the Marcus-Lushnikov process. Furthermore, the asymptotic behaviour of the largest particle in the Marcus-Lushnikov process without cut-off is studied, and it is shown that there is only one giant particle. This single particle represents, asymptotically, the lost mass of the solution to the Flory equation. The paper is concluded with a small simulation study, where the theoretical results are demonstrated.