Kinetic equations with Maxwell boundary conditions

We prove global stability results of {sl DiPerna-Lions} renormalized solutions for the initial boundary value problem associated to some kinetic equations, from which existence results classically follow. The (possibly nonlinear) boundary conditions are completely or partially diffuse, which includes the so-called Maxwell boundary conditions, and we prove that it is realized (it is not only a boundary inequality condition as it has been established in previous works). We are able to deal with Boltzmann, Vlasov-Poisson and Fokker-Planck type models. The proofs use some trace theorems of the kind previously introduced by the author for the Vlasov equations, new results concerning weak-weak convergence (the renormalized convergence and the biting $L^1$-weak convergence), as well as the Darroz`es-Guiraud information in a crucial way.

Rate of convergence to self-similarity for Smoluchowskis coagulation equation with constant coefficients

We show that solutions to Smoluchowskis equation with a constant coagulation kernel and an initial datum with some regularity and exponentially decaying tail converge exponentially fast to a self-similar profile. This convergence holds in a weighted Sobolev norm which implies the L^2 convergence of derivatives up to a certain order k depending on the regularity of the initial condition. We prove these results through the study of the linearized coagulation equation in self-similar variables, for which we show a spectral gap in a scale of weighted Sobolev spaces. We also take advantage of the fact that the Laplace or Fourier transforms of this equation can be explicitly solved in this case.

Fractional diffusion limit for collisional kinetic equations

This paper is devoted to diffusion limits of linear Boltzmann equations. When the equilibrium distribution function is Maxwellian distribution, it is well known that for an appropriate time scale, the small mean free path limit gives rise to a diffusion equation. In this paper, we consider situations in which the equilibrium distribution function is a heavy-tailed distribution with infinite variance. We then show that for an appropriate time scale, the small mean free path limit gives rise to a fractional diffusion equation.

Stability, convergence to the steady state and elastic limit for the Boltzmann equation for diffusively excited granular media

We consider a space-homogeneous gas of {it inelastic hard spheres}, with a {it diffusive term} representing a random background forcing (in the framework of so-called {em constant normal restitution coefficients} $alpha in [0,1]$ for the inelasticity). In the physical regime of a small inelasticity (that is $alpha in [alpha_*,1)$ for some constructive $alpha_* in [0,1)$) we prove uniqueness of the stationary solution for given values of the restitution coefficient $alpha in [alpha_*,1)$, the mass and the momentum, and we give various results on the linear stability and nonlinear stability of this stationary solution.