Flux-approximation limits of solutions to the relativistic Euler equations for polytropic gas (Q898837)

The flux-approximation problem of the relativistic Euler equations for polytropic gas in special relativity is studied in the paper. As the first step of investigation the authors discuss the delta-shocks and vacuum states for the pressureless relativistic Euler equations. The proper energy density \(\rho(x,t)\) and the particle speed \(v(x,t)\) satisfy the equations \[ \begin{cases} \frac{\partial }{\partial t}\left(\frac{\rho}{c^2-v^2} \right)+ \frac{\partial }{\partial x}\left(\frac{\rho v}{c^2-v^2} \right)=0 ,\\ \frac{\partial }{\partial t}\left(\frac{\rho v}{c^2-v^2} \right)+ \frac{\partial }{\partial x}\left(\frac{\rho v^2}{c^2-v^2} \right)=0,\end{cases} \] in the region \(\{(\rho,v):\;\rho\geq 0,\;| v |\leq c\}\), \(t>0\), \(x\in \mathbb{R}\). \(c\) is the speed of light. The equations are added by discontinuous initial data \[ (\rho,v)(x,0)=(\rho_\pm,v_\pm),\quad \pm x>0 \tag{id} \] where \(\rho_\pm\), \(v_\pm\) are arbitrary constants. The perturbed pressureless relativistic Euler equations \[ \begin{cases} \frac{\partial }{\partial t}\left(\frac{\rho c^2}{c^2-v^2} \right)+ \frac{\partial }{\partial x}\left(\frac{\rho vc^2}{c^2-v^2}-2\varepsilon v \right)=0 , \\ \frac{\partial }{\partial t}\left(\frac{\rho vc^2}{c^2-v^2} \right)+ \frac{\partial }{\partial x}\left(\frac{\rho v^2c^2}{c^2-v^2}-\varepsilon v^2 \right)=0,\end{cases} \tag{pp} \] where \(\varepsilon\) is a small scaling parameter, is studied at the second step. It is proved that the problem ({pp}), ({id}) has a unique entropy solution, which consists of two contact discontinuities and a pseudo-vacuum state when \(v_-<v_+\) and a parameterized delta shock wave when \(v_->v_+\). Limiting behavior of this solution as \(\varepsilon\,\rightarrow\, 0\) is studied. The perturbed Euler system \[ \begin{cases} \frac{\partial }{\partial t}\left((p+\rho c^2)\frac{ v^2}{c^2(c^2-v^2)}+p \right)+ \frac{\partial }{\partial x}\left((p+\rho c^2)\frac{ v}{c^2-v^2}-2\varepsilon v \right)=0 , \\ \frac{\partial }{\partial t}\left((p+\rho c^2)\frac{ v}{c^2-v^2} \right)+ \frac{\partial }{\partial x}\left((p+\rho c^2)\frac{ v^2}{c^2-v^2}-\varepsilon v^2+p \right)=0, \\ p(\rho)=k^2\rho^\gamma,\quad 0<k<c,\;\gamma>1 \end{cases}\tag{pes} \] is studied at the last step. Here \(p(x,t)\) is the pressure, \(k\) is the constant. The authors solve the problem ({pes}), ({id}) and examines the dependence of the solutions on the parameters \(\varepsilon\) and \(k\). Limits of these solutions as \(\varepsilon\), \(k\rightarrow 0\) are considered.