Global structure instability of Riemann solutions of quasilinear hyperbolic systems of conservation laws: rarefaction waves (Q2576967)

This work is a continuation of our previous work [\textit{D.-X. Kong}, ibid. 188, No. 1, 242--271 (2003; Zbl 1015.35069)]. In the present paper we prove the global structure instability of the Lax's Riemann solution \(u=U(\frac xt)\), containing rarefaction waves, of general \(n \times n\) quasilinear hyperbolic system of conservation laws. Combining the results in loc. cit. we prove that the Lax's Riemann solution of general \(n\times n\) quasilinear hyperbolic system of conservation laws is globally structurally stable if and only if it contains only nondegenerate shocks and contact discontinuities, but no rarefaction waves and other weak discontinuities.