Convergence to equilibrium of some kinetic models (Q2636650)

This work generalizes an approach introduced in [\textit{L. Desvillettes} and \textit{C. Villani}, Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 54, No. 1, 1--42 (2001; Zbl 1029.82032)] to the problem of convergence to equilibrium for kinetic equations. The principal new point is the possibility to find explicitly the decay rates. The main results are: the proof of exponential decay rates for the Goldstein-Taylor system for the factor \(\sigma \geq 0\) in its right-hand side, which relaxes the regularity of initial conditions and does not require the condition that the cross-section \(\sigma\) is greater than a positive polynomial; the estimation of the polynomial decay rate for the case \(\sigma=1\). As well, similar quite general results are proven for the Boltzmann equation with the quadratic collision operator.