Discrete Velocity Models and Dynamical Systems

Abstract

We study some questions related to general discrete velocity (with arbitrarily number of velocities) models (DVMs) of the Boltzmann equation. In the case of plane stationary problems the typical DVM reduces to a dynamical system (system of ODEs). Properties of such systems are studied in the most general case. In particular, a topological classification of their singular points is made and dimensions of the corresponding stable, unstable and center manifolds are computed. These results are applied to typical half-space problems of rarefied gas dynamics, including the problems of Milne and Kramer. A classification of well-posed half-space problems for linearized DVMs is made. Exact solutions of a (simplified) linearized kinetic model of BGK type are found as a limiting case of the corresponding discrete models. Existence of solutions of weakly non-linear half-space problems for general DVMs are studied. The solutions are assumed to tend to an assigned Maxwellian at infinity, and the data for the outgoing particles at the boundary are assigned, possibly depending on the data for the incoming particles. The conditions, on the data at the boundary, needed for the existence of a unique (in a neighborhood of the assigned Maxwellian) solution of the problem are investigated. Both implicit, in the non-degenerate cases, and sometimes, in both degenerate and non-degenerate cases, explicit conditions are found. Shock-waves can be seen as heteroclinic orbits connecting two singular points (Maxwellians) for DVMs. We give a constructive proof for the existence of solutions of the shock-wave problem for the general DVM. This is worked out for shock speeds close to a typical speed, corresponding to the sound speed in the continuous case. We clarify how close the shock speed must be for our theorem to hold, and present an iteration scheme for obtaining the solution. The main results of the paper can be used for DVMs for mixtures as well as for DVMs for one species.