Proof of a McKean conjecture on the rate of convergence of Boltzmann-equation solutions (Q466901)

The paper deals with the rate of convergence of the solution of the spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation for Maxwellian molecules (SHBEMM). The authors derive an estimate of the best rate of relaxation to equilibrium. The main result is that, under some general conditions, the total variation distance between the solution (of the SHBEMM) and the Maxwellian distribution is bounded by an exponential with negative exponent. The proof is lengthy (it is a hard job) and works with ideas suggested by the central limit theorem in probability.