Diffusion limit of a Boltzmann–Poisson system with nonlinear equilibrium state

Abstract

The diffusion approximation for a Boltzmann–Poisson system is studied. Nonlinear relaxation type collision operator is considered. A relative entropy is used to prove useful [Formula: see text]-estimates for the weak solutions of the scaled Boltzmann equation (coupled to Poisson) and to prove the convergence of the solution toward the solution of a nonlinear diffusion equation coupled to Poisson. In one dimension, a hybrid Hilbert expansion and the contraction property of the operator allow to exhibit a convergence rate.