Gas dynamics applications of a characteristic Cauchy problem. (Q1874445)

The author studies selected initial-boundary value problems for the system of quasilinear partial differential equations of gas dynamics with initial data prescribed on characteristic surfaces (characteristic Cauchy problem). Using a special change of independent variables, it is shown that the problems can be reduced to a characteristic Cauchy problem of standard type that satisfies the Cauchy-Kovalevskaya existence theorem in the class of analytical functions. Hence, in the case of analyticity of initial data, there exist unique piecewise analytic solutions which may be expressed by infinite power series. The results are applied to piston problems with a given pressure and with a moving free boundary.