The Riemann problem for a simple model of phase transition (Q2496614)

In the present paper the isothermal \(p\)-system is studied, composed of two partial differential equations and the pressure law, defined for all positive densities and involving a constant zone. All unknowns used to described the model \((\tau\) -- the specific volume, \(u\) -- the velocity and \(p\) -- the pressure of the fluid), depend on \((t,x)\in \mathbb{R}_+\times\mathbb{R}\). The thermodynamic behavior of the fluid (in particular, the transition between the liquid and the vapor states) is contained in the pressure law. More precisely, the corresponding Riemann problem is solved, by the study of the intersection of two sets of states.