Continuous/smooth transonic solutions to the quasi-one-dimensional steady relativistic Euler equations

Abstract

This paper establishes the existence and uniqueness of continuous/smooth Meyer type transonic solutions to the quasi-one-dimensional steady isentropic relativistic Euler equations. We use the high-order Taylor’s expansion of the velocity near the sonic point to overcome the difficulties of applying the implicit function theorem caused by the sonic degeneracy. It is verified that the flow in the De Laval nozzle accelerates from subsonic upstream and continuously/smoothly pass through the sonic surface at the throat and then becomes supersonic downstream. Moreover, the flow may have a zero or positive acceleration at the sonic surface, which depends on the geometric property of the nozzle at the throat.