Global validity of the Boltzmann equation for a two-dimensional rare gas in vacuum (Q1087089)

The authors prove the validity of the Boltzmann equation for all times for a gas expanding into the vacuum with a large mean free path. The pillars of the proof are substantially two: the global existence proof of the Cauchy problem for the spatially inhomogeneous Boltzmann equation of the first author and \textit{M. Shinbrot} [ibid. 95, 217-226 (1984; Zbl 0599.76088)] and the local in time derivation of the Boltzmann equation obtained by \textit{O. Lanford} III [Lect. Notes Phys. 38, 1-111 (1975; Zbl 0329.70011)].