Spring 2017   -   Kinetic Theory: analysis, applications and numerical issues
M 393C and CAM 393C   
Unique 54975

Instructor:   Prof. Irene M. Gamba
Office: RLM 10.166, Phone: 471-7150
E-Mail: gamba@math.utexas.edu
Office hours: by appointment


Meeting Hours:   RLM 10.176,    T-Th 12:30-2:00pm       


We will have an extra hour discussion time when needed on a date and place to be set.

Kinetic theory: analysis, applications and numerical issues

This topics course covers issues on the Boltzmann and Smoluchowski type equations for conservative and non-conservative systems and connection to non-equilibrium statistical mechanics.

More specifically, we will discuss introduction and  elementary properties associated to elastic and inelastic collisional theory and to solutions of the Boltzmann transport equation, time irreversibility, conservation laws, H-theorem and energy inequalities. The grazing collision limit for Coulomb interactions and the connection to the Landau Equation. 

 

Topics to be  cover are space Homogeneous problems and Povzner type lemmas. Existence and uniqueness properties in connection of moment inequalities. Carleman integral representation and comparisons principles for pointwise bounds to solutions. Convolution inequalities for collision Operators. Fourier representation of the Boltzmann equation. Kinetic equations of Maxwell type, stationary and self-similar solutions for space homogeneous problems.

Connections to dynamical scaling and existence of stable laws from continuous probability theory to non-Gaussian states. Applications to information propagation problems. 

 

The space inhomogeneous problem. The space inhomogeneous problem in all space. The Kaniel-Shimbrot iteration method vs the Hamdache method. Scattering effects for solutions in all space due to dispersion vs dissipation.

 

Averaging lemmas and renormalized DiPerna-Lions Solutions From kinetic to fluid dynamical models. Small mean free path, Hilbert and Chapman expansions. Moment Methods. Derivation of fluid level equations. Low field approximations: Drift-Diffusion models

 

Numerical approximations to kinetic particle systems: deterministic solvers for linear and non-linear collisional forms. Conservative spectral and FEM methods Topics on kinetic models for plasmas and charge transport as well as to inverse problem in nano-scales. The Boltzmann-Poisson system. Boltzmann-Poisson vs. Fokker-Plank-Poisson systems.    

The Boltzmann-Poisson system. Boltzmann-Poisson vs. Fokker-Plank-Poisson systems.


Prerequisites: Some knowledge of methods of applied mathematics and differential equations.

The following is a suggested bibliography:
Cercignani C., "The Boltzmann Equation and its Applications", Springer, New York, 1988.
Cercignani C., Illner, R. and Pulvirenti, M., "The Mathematical Theory of Diluted Gases", Springer, New York, 1994.
Villani, C., A review of Mathematical topics in collisional kinetic theory, Handbook of fluid mechanics, Handbook of Fluid Mechanics, (2003).

Class notes and several recent papers to be distributed in class.

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.