Delta shock waves with Dirac delta function in both components for systems of conservation laws

Abstract

We study a class of non-strictly and weakly hyperbolic systems of conservation laws which contain the equations of geometrical optics as a prototype. The Riemann problems are constructively solved. The Riemann solutions include two kinds of interesting structures. One involves a cavitation where both state variables tend to zero forming a singularity, the other is a delta shock wave in which both state variables contain Dirac delta function simultaneously. The generalized Rankine–Hugoniot relation and entropy condition are proposed to solve the delta shock wave. Moreover, with the limiting viscosity approach, we show all of the existence, uniqueness and stability of solution involving the delta shock wave. The generalized Rankine–Hugoniot relation is also confirmed. Then our theory is successfully applied to two typical systems including the geometric optics equations. Finally, we present the numerical results coinciding with the theoretical analysis.