Global validity of the Boltzmann equation for a three-dimensional rare gas in vacuum (Q1116840)

We consider a system of N hard spheres in the Boltzmann-Grad limit (i.e. \(d\to 0\), \(N\to \infty\), \(Nd^ 2\to \lambda^{-1}>0\), where d is the diameter of the spheres). If \(\lambda\) is sufficiently large, and if the joint distribution densities factorize at time zero, with the one particle distribution decaying sufficiently rapidly in space and velocities, we prove that the time evolved one-particle distribution converges for all times to the solution of the Boltzmann equation with the same initial datum. This result improves and is based on a previous paper [\textit{R. Illner} and the author, ibid. 105, 189-203 (1986; Zbl 0609.76083)], valid only in two dimensions.