Self-similar fluid-dynamic limits for the Broadwell system (Q684416)

The Broadwell system of the kinetic theory of gases is considered. This model describes a gas of particles with identical masses moving along three perpendicular coordinate axes with the same speed. Results of a particular collision have the same probability, and only binary collisions are taken into account. A new approach for the resolution of the fluid-dynamic limit for this system, appropriate in the case of Riemann, Maxwellian data, is discussed. The Knudsen number \(\varepsilon\) in the Broadwell model is replaced so that the resulting model admits self-similar solutions of \(\xi= x/t\). The limiting procedure at \(\varepsilon\) tending to zero is justified, and the resulting limit is a solution of the Riemann problem for the fluid-dynamic limit equations. A class of Riemann data for which this program can be carried out is exhibited. It is also shown that for the Carleman model the complete program can be done successfully for arbitrary Riemann data.