On the Boltzmann Equation

Part lI: The Full Initial ValueProblem

LEIF ARKERVD
Communicated by J.L. LIoNs
O. Introduction
This is the second of two related papers on the initial value problem for the
spatially homogeneous, non-linear Boltzmann equation in the absence of exterior
forces

df

d--T=Qf

(0.1)

(t>0),

f(0)=fo=>0,

with collision operator

Qf(vl)=

[J*(f|

(01, v 2 ) - ( f |

1, v2)] k(vl, v2)dv 2 du.

R 3 B 2 (r)

The notations are those of Part I, just preceding. The impact parameter u is restricted
to a disc

B2(r)={u~R2; [ul<r},
and the kernel k(vt, v2) is a measurable, non-negative function with
(0.2)

k(vl, v2)< Ck(1 +l V1[a + IV21a)

(0<,l__<2)

and invariant under ~,*, J*, Z * k = J * k = k . Here J* is induced by a Cl-diffeomorphism J on R a x R 3 x B z (r), restricted in a certain way. With
1 : R 3 x Ra--*R: (vl, v l ) ~ l

p: R 3 x R a - - * R 3 : ( v l , v2)--~v 1 + v 2

T: R 3 x R a ~ R : (vl, v2)--*lv112+ Ivz [2

Z: R a x Ra.-.~R3 x Ra: (vl, vz)...-*(v2, vl) ,
the restriction on J can be written
(0.3)

lo./.=1,

poJ,=p,

(0.4)

~oJ,=J, oZ,

(0.5)

J o J = identity.

2 Arch. Rational Mech. Anal., Vol. 45

ToJ.=T,

18

L. ARKERYD:

For a discussion of these conditions, the Boltzmann equation and previous results
on the full initial-value problem, see Part I. There we have proved an existence
theorem for (0.1) under physically natural conditions on fo(fo logfo,fo(v).
(1 +Iv 12)~L1 (RS)).
The present paper considers the full initial-value problem (0.1), i.e. the questions of existence, uniqueness, positivity, and asymptotic behavior including
equilibrium solutions, under the additional hypothesis that the fourth moment of
fo exists (fo(v)Ivl%LX).
In Section 1 we give a constructive Ll-proof of existence and uniqueness for
(0.1), when fo(v)(l+lvl*)zL t (no entropy requirement), based on the monotonicity argument of the bounded case in Part I. For a continuous k(vt, v2) =
k(Ivl-v21) and 0___2<1 in (0.2), this corresponds to the results obtained by
A. JA. POVZNER[6] through a measure-compactness argument. We also prove the
~-theorem employing the method introduced in Part I for the bounded case.
The rest of the paper is devoted to the questions of positivity and asymptotic
behavior under some additional restrictions on J and k (Condition 2.2 and
Condition 3.1 below). Section 2 contains a strict positivity result for the solution
of the Boltzmann equation and demonstrates that the only equilibrium solutions
are the expected Maxwell distributions. The main step thereof has independent
interest, namely the proof that the only non-negative, measurable solutions of the
Cauchy equation

f(vl+ql)f(vl+q2)=f(vl)f(v1+qt+q2)

(a.e. q l l q 2 )

are the Maxwell distributions.

Section 3 proves that moments of high order are bounded uniformly in time
provided certain still higher moments exist initially. On the basis of the ~r
this section also demonstrates a weak Ll-convergence of the solution to the
corresponding Maxwell distribution when t approaches infinity.
1. Existence, Uniqueness and the .Yt~-Theorem
The existence proof is based on the same monotonicity argument as in Part I,

which we first recall.

Suppose the mapping ~ on L 1 (R 3) is positive and monotone, i.e.

0__<~f_<__~3g if o<=f<=g.
Take h (v) such that
0~h(v)~C(l+lvl2).
The initial-value problem
- dd~ f +

(1.1)

hf=C~f (t>0),

f(0) =fo ,

characterized by (h, ~), is considered together with the following sequence of

successive approximations:
t

(1.2)

fl=0,

f"+l=e-h'fo+ Se-h(tl)cSff(s)ds
0

(n>l).

The Boltzmarm Equation. II

19

Then (f_n)~ is a positive, monotone sequence. A pair of problems (1.1), characterized

by (h, if) and (h', ~') is called a monotone pair if

h<h',

fd<fo,

and

~'g<~g

(g>0).

Corresponding s o l u t i o n s f a n d f ' , obtained by (1.2) satisfy

O<f'<f.
For details, see Part I.
As in Part I, we use C and K to denote various constants and set
/r

Ilfll= Sf(v)dv

and

Ilfll~= S (l+lvl2)Zf(v) dv,

R3

R3

(v~, v~)=Ju(v,,v2)

and

B 2=B2(l/V-~)

(giving

S du = 1).

(1.3)

B2

Theorem 1.1. Suppose

0<(1 + Iv ID fo (v)~L1(R 3)
for some x> 4. Then there exists a unique solution f > O of(0.1), such that
(l+lvl~)f(v,t)ELl(R3),

IIf(t)ll2=llfoll2

(t>0),

and
Ilf(t)ll~<Cto I]foll~ (t<to).

(1.4)

Here C,o only depends on Ilfol12, to >0, ~, and Ck of(0.2).

Proof. As in Theorem 3.2 of Part I, we approximate the kernel k by bounded
functions
km(vD v2)=min(k(vl, v2), m),
denote the corresponding collision operators by Qm, write the solutions of the
equations

df = Q,nf (t > 0),

dt

(l.5)m

f(0) =fo

as fro, and notice that

(1.6)
for r
(1.7)

~.f,n(V, t) ~O(V)clv= $fo(V) ~p(V)dv

1, v, I vl z. Moreover
[Ifm(t)][~<=C,oIIf011~ (t<=to),

with C,o only depending on Ilfol12, to>0, ~c and Ck of (0.2). Here we have used
Proposition 1.1-1.3 of Part I.
After introducing

h(Vl)=K(1 + ]v 112)J"(1 + [/)212)fo (V2)dv2,

Q" f=Q,nf + K(1 +lVllZ)f(vx)[.(1 +lye IZ)f(vz)dv2 du,
2*

20

L. ARr.ERYD:

we rewrite (1.5),~ as

(1.5)"

a/
d-----i-+hf=Q,f (t>0),

f(0) =f0,

using the normalization (1.3).

From (0.2) follows

jf(vl) g(v2) k(vl, v2) dr2 du < Ck(1 +l vl IX)f(vl) ~ g(v2) (1 +1021 a) dr2,
and thus Q" is positive, monotone for K sufficiently large, as 0 < ~ < 2. The operator

Q; defined by
Qmf=I 3* (f |

(vl, v2) km(vx,v2)

+ ( f | f ) (v l, v2) (K (1 + Ivt 12) (1 + Iv212)- k (vl, ~

d v2 d u

is positive, monotone, too. Moreover

o<o" f-Q~,f

(0<f),

O<Q'~f-Q~'f

(O<f,O<m-j).

and
It follows that the equations (1.5)" and

df
d----t4-hf = Q "" f (t>0),

(1.5)~

f(0)=fo

with the same initial valuefo constitute a monotone pair.

Applying the iteration procedure (1.2) to both equations, we see that all their
iterates are bounded from above by f,,, the solution of (1.5)m. Thus they have
limits in L 1(R3), bounded from above byf,,. In particular the limit functionf" of
(1.5)" satisfies
(1.8)

f " <fro.

Analogously two limit functionsf" and f ] ' with the same initial valuefo satisfy

fj'<f"

(1.9)

(j<m).

It follows that

Ilfj' (t)ll2 <lf-(t)ll2 <=llfm(t)ll2=U'oll2

(j<m).

Then the monotonicity of (f~,')~ implies the existence of

(1.~o)

f(t) = lim f"(t),

m"* ~

with
(1.11)

IIf(t)ll2 ~ Ilfol12,

and
t

(1.12)

f(t)=fo e-h' + Se-h('-~)Q~f('c)d~:.

0

The Boltzmann Equation. I I

21

Moreover by (1.7)

llf(t)llK < C,o Ilfoll~

(t < to),

The function f satisfies

df ~_hf=Qf+KS(l+lvll2)(l+lv2]2 )
dt
9f(vl, t)f(v2, t)dudo2 ( t > 0 ) ,

(1.13)

f(0)=fo,

and so.f is a solution of (0.1), if there is equality in (1.11). If g is a solution of (0.1),

such that
IIg(t)ll2 = llfoll2,
then g satisfies (1.12) a n d f < g by the construction off. Hence the proof of Theo
rem 1.1 is complete, if there is equality in (1.11).
There are equations for fro andf~" corresponding to (1.13). They give
d

d---{s,,+hs,~=Q"fm-Q'~f~,',
with sm=f~-f". By (1.8) sm is non-negative. Now
k(vl, v2)-k,(vl, v2)=0,
say for
1

max (I vl I, I v2 I) < (m Ck 1 _ 1) a2
Then for t< to(to >0) using (0.3)--(0.5), we easily get

I s.(o~, t) (1 +l vl 12) dr1

t

= II(Q'f,-hf,~) (1 +Iv 112) dr1 d z + r I I ( 1 +Iv 112)2 (1 +l v212)

o

9[fo(v2)--f"(o2, "0"]f " ( v l , ~)dvl do2 du dz

t

II [kCvl, v2)-km(vl, v2l]f}n'(vl, T)f~,' (v2, ~1

o

9(1+10112 ) d r ldv2dudz

<=O+tKCtollfoll+ sup

Ilsm(x)ll2+o(1)

O__.+~to

a s m - + o0.

It follows that
(1.14)

Ilsm(t)ll2~0

(m--+ oo)

for small t, and

IIf(t)ll2 = lira IIf~,'(t)ll2 = lira Ilfm(t)ll2 = Ilfoll2 9
m---~ oo

!11,-+oo

22

L. ARKERVD:

From this the theorem follows, and the solution is

f= lira f~'= lim fm"

(1.5)

Corollary 1.2. The integral equation (1.12) has a unique solution for which (1.6) and
(1.7) hold. This solution is also the solution of(0.1).
Proof. A solution of (1.12) satisfying (1.7) is also a solution of (1.13). The corollary
now follows by the uniqueness proof of Theorem 1.1 applied first to the iterated
solution (1.2) and the solution lim f " , then to the iterated solution (1.2) and an
arbitrary solution,
m-.|
Theorem 1.3. Suppose f(vl, t) is the solution of(0.1) with

fo(v) (1 +Iv 14), fo logfo ~L1Then

f(v, t)logf(v, t)EL1

(t >0),

and
~,o(t) = Sf (v, t) logf(v, t) d v

is non-increasing as a function of t.
Proof. This follows in the same way as Theorem 2.1 of Part I. The starting point
in Part I was the Boltzmann equation written as (1.I) (obtained by (1.9) of Part I).
Here (1.13) is of the desired type and a suitable starting point. We apply Corollary 1.2 above for the uniqueness argument in the last step of the proof.
Corollary 1.4. The sets

S~={f(v, t)(1 +IriS); t>0} =LI(R 3)

(0<x<2)

are weakly relatively compact for the solution f(v, t) of(0.1)/f

fo(v)(l+lvl4), fologfo~L a.
Proof. This follows from Theorem 1.1 and Theorem 1.3 by use of the DunfordPettis Theorem, analogously to the proof of Lemma 3.1 in Part I.
2. Positivity and Equilibrium Solutions

The results of this section on positivity and equilibrium solutions depend,

roughly speaking, on Q's having a positive weight-function

k(vl, v2)>0

(2.1)

a.e.,

as well as on the possibility of using the scattering angle instead of the impact
parameter as a variable of integration in Q.
Let us introduce some restrictions on J to handle the scattering angle. Set
ql = ql(vl,

v2-vl, u)=v; (vl, v2, u ) - v l ,

qz =qz(vl, v z - v l , u)=v'~(vl, vz, u ) - v l .

The Boltzmann Equation. II

23

We note that
(2.2)

q i + q2 = v2 Vl
-

by definition, and that

(2.3)

(ql" q2) = 0 .

The relation (2.3) follows from (0.3)-(0.5), as

(ql" q2) = ([v~ - vii. [v~ - vii ) = 1Ol 12+ (v~. vD- (ol. [v~ + v~])

Iv, I" + ( v ~ . v~)- ( v l " Iv I 71-v2] ) = ( V l . v 2 ) - (v I 9 v2)

=89 v~ +v[ [2_(i v~ 12+Iv[ 12)}--89 vt +v212-(I vl 12+l v212)} = o .
=

Lemma 2.1. Assume that vt in

R3

and ~ in

S={~ee3; I~1=1}
are given. The set

E~= {(r, u); O< r < 2 x , uEB 2}

(2.4)
is mapped into the ball

B3(K, K~)----{V, Iv-x~l=<x}

(2.5)
by the mapping

(r, u)-~ql (r~, u).

(2.6)

ProM. This is an immediate consequence of (2.2) and (2.3).

Let vt e R 3 be given. Consider the mapping
(2.7)

(r~, u)---,(q t (r4, u), ~) =(ql, 4)

from R 3 x B 2 into
M = {(q,, ~)eR 3 x S; (q,, 0 > 0 } u {(0, 4); ~ S } .
Condition 2.2. Let k satisfy (2.1), and for a.e. Vl~R 3 let the mapping (2.7) be
bijective from R a x B 2 onto M after deleting a set of measure zero from each
space, (2.7) also allowing a formula for "changing variables":
R3 x B2

~k(r~,u)= M~ #/x(ql,r

with the Jacobian determinant ~ 4=0 a.e. on M. Here

~/1(ql, ~)= ~/(r(ql, r

u(qx, 0 ) .

Theorem 2.3. Let f(vl, t) be the solution of the Boltzmann equation (0.1) under
Condition 2.2 and with
O< f o ( v ) ( l +lvl*)~L t ,

Ilfoll > 0 .

Then
f(v, t ) > 0

(a.e. veR 3, t>0).

24

L. ARKERYD

Remark 2.4. This weak positivity property is sufficient for the asymptotic
results of the present paper. However, it can easily be strengthened into an estimate
of f from below by a positive function, if Condition 2.2 is somewhat restricted.
Moreover the theorem itself is true with the same proof for the solutions of
Theorems 3.2-3.3 in Part I, as well as for the solution in [2].
Proof of Theorem 2.3. The positivity trivially follows from (1.12) without any
extra restrictions on J or k, w h e n f o > 0 a.e. I f f o > 0 only on some set of positive
measure, then the positivity is a consequence of the next two lemmas.
Lemma 2.5. Under the conditions of Theorem 2.3 there are r x > 0 and ~ ~ R a depending
on fo, such that
f(o, t)>O
(t>O, v~B3(rl, ~:)).
Lemma 2.6. Assume that the conditions of Theorem 2.3 hoM and that

f(v, t)>O

(t>O, w B S ( r , , O)

for some r I > 0 and ~ R 3. Then

f(v, t)>O

(t>O, vEB3(rt(l+tl), ~))

for some t1> O, tl independent of r I and ~.

Proof of Lemma 2.5. Using (1.12) we notice that

f>=fo e-h' ,
and that
t

f > Se-h('-OQ'~foe-h~dz.

(2.8)

We estimate the right member through an estimate of the first term in Q~. For
that purpose we are interested in
fo (o~)fo (v[) =fo (01 + ql) fo (or + q2).
The difference v2 -Vx = re is a function of Vl, ql and ~ by the bijectivity of (2.7).
Then q2 = v2 - Vl - qt andf(vx + q l ) f ( v l + q2) are functions of ql for vI and ~ given.
By hypothesis fo > 0 on a set O of positive measure in R 3. Starting from a Vitali
system of, say, cubes, O can be covered a.e. by a sequence of disjoint cubes (An)~'
with 13An approximating f2 arbitrarily well in measure. As a consequence, there
1

is a 6 > 0 and ~ R 3, such thatfo > 0 on a set of measure larger than, say, 2" "~n~53
contained in B 3 (6, vo), for every
B3(6, Vo)=B3( 4C5,O.
Let vleB3(26, ~), and let ~ e S be given. From the property that q l ~ q 2 is
measure preserving, which is an easy consequence of (2.2) and (2.3), we conclude
that
fo(vl + q l ) f o ( v l + q2) > 0

The Boltzmann Equation. II

25

on a set in B3(/~, 6G) of measure larger than 89 ]~63 as a function of qp This

implies by (2.8) that

f(v 1, t)>0

(t>0, a.e. VleB3(26, ~)),

which completes the proof.

Proof of I.emma 2.6. An application of (1.12) as in the previous proof gives
t

f(vl, t)> ~e-h(v'w-~ f(vt+ql)f(vl +q2)kl~[dr

(2.9)

From this the lemma follows, if

el+q1, vt+q2EBS(rl, 0
on sufficiently large sets of (ql, ~)eM for
vl ~B 3(rl (1 + t/), ~ ) \ B 3 (rl, O.
This, however, holds by an elementary geometrical construction. Take Vx on the
boundary of B3(rl, ~), i.e. t~1 - e l = r l , and take Goes parallel to v-v1 and ql of
length rl/V~, such that Go and qx have the angle ~/4. Choose t/> 0, a neighborhood
Nr of Go in S and a neighborhood N~, of qt in R 3 such that
Vl +qx, Vl +q2eBS(rl, v),
if

q~N~,,

vt =(1 +s)~ 1 (0<e<t/),

G~N~o.

Here ~/can be chosen independently of r 1. By a rotation we can repeat this for

every V'l such that [v'l - v[ = rl. Hence for all v I with
rl < [ v l - ~ [ < ( l + ~ l ) rl,
there is a set of (ql, G)~M of positive measure on which

Vl +qt, vl +qz(ql,~G)~B(rl, v).

By this fact and (2.9) the lemma follows.
The rest of this section is devoted to a study of the equilibrium solutions under
Condition 2.2. The strict positivity of any solution just proved implies that the
term JNgJn,i ((2.11) of Part I) can be kept throughout the limiting process in our
proof of the ~,~-theorem, giving (for (2.18) of Part I)
t ~t

~q~(t") < ~ (t') + ~ Nf(t) d t.

(2.10)

t'

Here

N f =88~ [d*(f | f ) - f | f] k(Vl, re) log I f | f /J*(f |

du dv~ dv 2 .

This term is always non-positive, and moreover strictly negative unless

(2.11)
for a.e.

f(v'l) f(v'2)-f(vl) f(v2) = 0

(vt, v2, u ) e R s x R s x B 2.

26

L. ARKERYD"

Take Vl such that (2.11) holds for a.e. (v2, u)eR 3 x B 2. With (ql, 0 as new
variables (2.11) holds by Condition 2.2 for a.e. (qx, O e M . Taking (ql, q2) as new
variables, (2.11) is satisfied for a.e. (ql, q2)e M ' with
M ' = {(ql, q2)eR a x R3; (qx" q2)----0},

i.e.
(2.12)

f(vl +qt)f(vl + q2)=f(vx)f(vt +ql +q2)

(a.e. (qx, q2)eM').

Now this holds for a.e. v I eR a.

Theorem 2.7. The non-negative, measurable solutions of the functional equation
(2.12) are exactly the functions
f ( v ) = C exp(a Iv [2 + ( b . v)).
Proof. Evidently such an exponential function is a solution. To prove that there
are no others, we first show that any non-trivial solution f is locally uniformly
bounded away from zero and infinity in the a.e. sense, which implies that f,
logfeL~oo. But if f is measurable and f > 0 on a set of positive measure, then
s<f(v)<C a.e. on a set (2 of positive measure for some e, C > 0 . Starting from a
ball to a sufficient degree contained in (2, it follows by an argument similar to the
proof of Lemma 2.5 used on (2.12) that

C2/e>f(v)>eZ/c

a.e.

in some smaller ball. This implies, similarly to the proof of Lemma 2.6, that f is
uniformly bounded away from zero and infinity in the a.e. sense on all balls with
the same centre, hence also locally on R 3.
With vt such that (2.12) holds for a.e. (q~, qz)eM' and with
~b(v) = l o g f ( v + v t ) - l o g f ( v 0 ,
the equation (2.12) can be written
(2.13)

~/(ql)+~k(q2)=~/(ql +q2)

(a.e. (ql, q2)eM') 9

From here the theorem is an immediate consequence of

Lemma 2.8.

/f ffeL~oc(Ra) and q/ satisfies the Cauchy equation (2.13)for a.e.

(ql, q2) eM', then

~(v)=a [vl2 +(b 9v).
Proof. The idea is to transform (2.13) into an equation of the same type holding
for all (qa, q2)eM' and with a continuous solution, in which ease the lemma is
well known. Choose a triple of orthogonal unit vectors el, e2, ca, such that for a.e.
(X1, X2, x 3 ) e R 3
(Xl et) + ~b(x 2 e2) + ~(x a ca) = ~ (x x e I + x 2 e2 + x a Ca),
and such that ~(xt ej)eL~oc(Rl) as a function of xj for j = 1, 2, 3. Such triples
1
3). Then for a.e.
el, e2, e3 exist since ~O satisfies (2.13) and belongs to Llo~(R

The Boltzmann Equation. II

27

(x~, x2, x3)eR ~

Xl

X2

Xa

dxl ~ dx2 ~ dx3~(xlel+x2e2+x3ea)

0

Xl

=x~x~x3

X2

~ ~(x2e2)dx~/X~+ ~(x~e~)dx~/X3

= X, X 2 X 2 ~ [d/(tX 1 el) + d/(tX2 e2) + ~b(tX 3 e3)] d t

0
1

=XI X2 X3 S @(t[X1 el + X2 e2 + X3 e3])dt.

0
But the first member is a continuous function of (Xx, X2, X3). Hence
(2.14)

1
ivl
X(v)= S~k(tv)dt= ~ ~,(tv/Ivl)dt/lvl
0

has a continuous extension in a neighborhood of v if v = X1 el + X2 e2 + X3 e3 with

XI X2 X3 4=0. But for a given v # 0 , that holds for some triple ex, e2, e3 of the
above type. Hence X(v) is continuous on Ra-{0}. An integration in (2.13) then
implies
(2.15)

Z(ql) + z(q2) = 2((q1 + q2)

if (qt, q2)EM', ql, q2 ~0. From (2.15) follows

limx(q)=0,
q~O

and so X is continuous in R 3 and (2.15) holds for all (ql, q2) eM'. By [3, p. 21-23]
this implies
X(v)=a' Ivl2 +(b '. v),
from which the lemma follows by taking the derivative in (2.14).
Theorem 2.9. Let f be the solution of the Boltzmann equation (0.1), with initial value
fo, satisfying
fo(v)(l+lvl4), fologfo~L 1.

Suppose Condition 2.2 holds. Then f is an equilibrium solution if and only if

(2.16)

f(v, t)=Cexp(a Ivl2+(b 9v)).

Proof. The " i f " part is evident since Qf=O for the functions of (2.16). On the
other hand, if f is an equilibrium solution, then ~ ' ( t ) is constant, and so Nf=O
by (2.10). This implies (2.12), and then the "only if" part follows from Theorem 2.7.
Corollary 2.10. 3~'(t) is strictly decreasing until f becomes an equilibrium solution,
under the conditions of the previous theorem.
Proof. We have just seen that Nf(to)= 0 implies
f(v, to) = C exp(a [ v 12+ (b- v)).

28

L. ARrd/RYD:

Thisf(v, to), however, is also a solution for t ~ to, and by the uniqueness the only
solution. Hence Nf(t)<0 until f becomes an equilibrium solution, and ~ ( t ) is
strictly decreasing by (2.10).
3. Asymptotic Behavior of the Solution and the Higher Moments

To study the boundedness of the higher moments, we need a simple consequence of (2.2) and (2.3). Write as above

v~=vl+qj

( j = l , 2),

Vj=xV~+2vj

( j = l , 2)

and decompose
with tvj parallel to q~ (i= 1, 2). Then

Iv~ 12= I vx +qx 12= Ixv2 + :112 = by212 + by112,

Iv'zl2=lvx + q212=hv2 + lv112=110112+hv2l z.

The binomial theorem and the expressions for [v~ 12 and Iv[ 12 immediately give

Iv'llZ"+lv'212n-lvl12"-Iv212"
(3.1)

n-1

2 ,-1

<n[2 ~. IvllZ'lv212("-')- ~ ~ hvjlZ'hvjI z~"-~).

v=l

j=l

v=l

L e t f b e the solution of (0.1). For boundedness of the moment

~lvl2"f(v,t)dv

(n>l)

we require the following of J and k:

Condition 3.1.

Sk(Vl, v2)f(v2, t ) d v 2 > ~ > 0

(3.2)

([vt [ > r ) ,

f2
n-1

~ ~, [xvllZVlzvllZ("-')du>>_Clvl[ z"

(3.3)

(vz~f2, lVxl>r),

B2 v = I

for some bounded set ~ c R 3 of positive measure and some C, r, and 5 > 0 depending on ilfo]l and Ilfoll2.
Remark 3.2. The inequality (3.2) holds e.g. in the physical case, i.e. for

k(Vl, v2)=C I v t - v 2 l .
Then

Ivl~N

I~I

and so

f (v, t)dv> [tfo[[/2

Ivl_~N

The Boltzmann Equation. I1

Theorem 3.3. Suppose Condition 3.1 holds, 0 5 A <2 in (0.2) and

for some rc 2 4. Then the solution f of (0.1) satisfies
(3.4)

llf(t>l12jSCllf~l12j ( t 2 O )

with C independent o f t , and j the integer for which

Proof. For j= 1, lc = 4, this is contained in Theorem 1.1. The general case is proved
by induction. Suppose (3.4) is known for j= 1 , ... , n - 1 and

fo(4

(1 + l v I K ) ~ ~ l

for some rc> 2n. We already know by Theorem 1.1 that

and we have a time-dependent estimate for 11 f(t)llzn, namely (1.4). To get the
stronger estimate (3.4) for j= n, we consider (1.5), , where the existence of

is easy to prove, as km is bounded. Then (1.5), gives

d

d t Jfrn(v17t ) I 01 12"dvl

=J Qrnfrn(v1,t )iv1 l 2 " d ~ 1

=~Jfrn(~l,t)fm(u2~t)[Iv;I2"+~~;12n-~~112n-~v2/2n]krn(~l,~2)d~d~ld~2.

By (3.1) this implies

30

L. ARKERYD"

By (1.8) and (3.3) then also

ff-ff[$fm(v.t) lv~lZ"dv~+C ~ IvxlE"f,~'(v. t~, Srr . , 2 , t)k,,(vl, v2)dol d v 2

v2e~
I~d_->,
n--I
=< n[ ~ ~fm(Ol, t)fm(V2, t) IV 112~1
v=l
n--I

v212<"-') km(Vl, v2) d u

do I d v2

<n! 3Ckv~= l Ilfm(t)il2~+a Ilf,.(t)ll2r

Here we used (0.2) in the last step. We rewrite this in the following way:
/.) 2n/'H /

t!
~ J,n[Vl, t)fm(V2,
t) km(vl, vz) dvldv2

ff-ff-[jfr.(Va, t) lv~lZ"dvx+C $

vzefl

n-2

< Cr 2" sup k(vl, v2)Ilfoll2+n! 3Ck ~ IIf,~(t)ll2~+~ [Ifm(t)ll2(.-~)

V2ED
Iod_<,

'r |

+ n t 3Ck IIfolh Ilfm(t)ll 2,+a-2.

With
n! 3Ck lifo]12 Ilfm(t)[12n+X-2 ~ - - I l f m ( t ) l l 2 . + C '

Ilfm(t)ll2n-2

we next get

~Sin(1)1' /)IU1 12" du 1 --~---~ ~fm(U1,t)II)112" du 1

it-2
<_
_C,+C , Ilfm(t)ll2.-2 +n! 3Ok ~ ilfm(t)ll2,+2 Ilfm(t)ll2tn-,)
V=I

+e.C~fm(Vl, t)[vll2ndvl__C ~ iv I z. .Jm. . . [I)1,

. . t)fm (V2, t) km(t)l,

~2) dt~l dt~2

v2EIl

=Rm(t).
We conclude that
~C

(3.5)

~C

Ifm(vl, t)lv, 12"dv1<Ifo(vl)lvll2"e-T'dvl+Ie---~('-~)Rm(zldz.

But (f,~') and (kin) are monotone sequences and

lira fro(o, t) (1 + I v l2n) =f(v, t) (1 +
m"*oo

i vl ~")

by (1.4) and (1.15) as r > 2 n. Taking the limit in (3.5) and applying (3.2) we thus get

If(v1, t) lvl 12" dr1 < I fo(v,) l v, 12" e -~c'/2 dvl

t

+ Ie-'C('-')/2[C,+C ' IIf(z)llzm-2

0

n-2

+ n[ 3Ckv~.= l IIf(z)llzv+ 2 IIf(z)llEt.-v)

+ eC ~f(vl, z) Ivl 12"d vl - e C ~f(vl, z) Iox 12"d vx]

d z.

The Boltzmann Equation. II

31

By the induction hypothesis this gives

t

Sf(v,, t) I v, ]2nd v, < Sfo (v,) I v, I ~" e -~ c t/~ d v 1 + ~ e-" cr 0/2 C"
0

_<max

v 2ndv,

which completes the proof.

Corollary 3.4. Assume that Condition 3.1 holds, 0 <=2 < 2 in (0.2) and that

fo(v) (1 +Iv I'~ fo logfo eL1

for some Xo>2jo__>4,j integer. Then the sets
S~ = {f(v, t) (1 + Iv Ix); t > 0} c L1(R a)
are weaky relatively compact for 0<__~ < 2j.
Proof. This follows from Theorem 1.3 and Theorem 3.3 by the Dunford-Pettis

theorem analogously to the proof of Lemma 3.1 in Part I.

Before turning to the asymptotic behavior of the solution f of (0.1), let us first
recall a lemma by GraBS.
Lemma 3.5 [4], [5]. Consider the class ~ of functions ~b> 0 in L 1 (R3), which satisfy
(3.6)

S~(v)dv=A,

~g/(v)vdv=B,

~(v)lvl2dv<=C.

Let

r
I v l ~ + ( b 9 v) + c)
be the unique exponentialfunction satisfying (3.6) with equality also in the third
relation. Then every ~ e c~ satisfies

(3.7)

~ ~ (v) log @(v) d v _->S @o(v) log ~bo (v) d v,

and there is equality in (3.7) only for @=@oWe can now, at last, study the asymptotic behavior o f f by an Ll-analogue of a
method developed by T. CARLEMAN[3, p. 59--62] for the maximum-norm.
Theorem 3.6. Assume that Condition 2.2 and Condition 3.1 hold, 0__<2<2 in (0.2)

and that

fo(v) (1 +lvl% f0 logfo ~L1

for some K>4. Then the solutkm f of (O.1) converges in the weak Ll-sense to the
unique equilibrium function
~/o(v)=exp(a [vl2+(b 9v)+c),
which satisfies
tp(v) ~o (v) dv = ~ q~(v) f o (v) dv
for tp= l, v, lvl z.
Proof. g ( t ) is bounded from below by Gibbs' Lemma 3.5. Hence by (2.10) there

is an increasing sequence (t,)~, such that

(3.8)

lim N f ( t . ) = O.
n.--~ oo

Take a subsequence (tny):=l, such that (pf(tnY))converges weakly towards some

L1-function p$ for p= 1, v, 1 vI2. This is possible by Corollary 3.4. Evidently

for q=1, v, IvI2.

We next show that

for a.e. (v,, v2, u)eR3 x R3 x B2. If not, then there is a bounded measurable set w
of measure m >0 in R3 x R~ x B2, and a constant Co,0< Co< 1, with
JAdvldv2du=Co.
0

This leads to a contradiction of (3.8), and thus (3.10) holds. We demonstrate the
contradiction.
Set
A ( t ) = f ( v ; ,t ) f ( v ; , t ) - f ( v l , t)f(v,, t ) ,

A ( t )= max ( A (t),0 ) .
+

7 hen

Here the inequality

x l o g x 2 -y+xlogy

( ~ 2 0y>O),
,

is used with x = f , y = e-"'. Hence

independent of t. This implies uniform absolute continuity of

on w (cf: Part I, Lemma 3.1). In particular, there is an N>O such that

if w ' c w , t LO and J 1 dv, dv, d u c l / N .

02'

Moreover the subset of w, where

The Boltzmann Equation. I1

33

has measure smaller than 1/N as 11 f (t) 11 = 11 fo 11. We conclude that there is a set
w, c w of measure m - 1/N, such that

on wv and
~ A ( t n V ) d v l d v 2 d u > C o / 2 (v>v,)

(3.12)
for some v,.
Take e > 0 such that

Then by (3.1 1) and (3.13)

5 - J (A+(t,Y))2/2~l
du dv, dv2 -log(l + E ) J A (tnV)du dvl dv2
+

%1

Ov2

5 -(2mc1)-l( J ~ + ( t , ~ ) d u d v ~ d v ~ ) ~ - l o gJ( lA'+ ~(tnV)dudv1dv2.

)
%1

ov2

But by (3.12)
-2

as O<Co<l. Hence
-C

Nf( t n v ) s

16

c2
O < O

independent of v for
C2= min [tm e l , log(1 E ) ] . This, however, is impossible by (3.8), and so
(3.10) holds. Using Theorem 2.7, we conclude that $ (v) = $, (v) .
If i= lim t, < co,then $, (v) =f(v, i) by the continuity of f, and the theorem

n+ w

follows from the uniqueness theorem in Section 1.

If lim t,= ac, and f(v, t) does not converge weakly to $,(v), then there is a
sequence (n, qV)$ with

,,

and in the weak L1-sense

limf (v, nv+qv)=$'+$O.
Vm
'

Arch. Rational Mech. Anal.. Vol. 45

34

L. ARKERYD" The Boltzmann Equation. II

But for some ho > 0

IIf(t)-f(t+ h)ll <89I1~'-~oll # 0

independently of t if Ihl < ho. By (2.10)
nv + 1

lim S Nf(t)dt=O,
as N f < O and ~r (t) is bounded from below by Gibbs' Lemma 3.5. Hence

limNf(t+nO=O

(3.14)

fora.e, te[0, 1].

Take t and a subsequence (n,j) such that (3.14) holds,

]t-t/vl<ho

for v>vl,

and

lim f (t + n~)=~,o

j~o3

in weak Ll-sense. Then

lim f (nvj + tl~j) - f (t + n~j) = d~ - ~bo
j~r

in weak Ll-sense and

IIf(nv~+tlv,)-f(t+nv)ll <89U~&'-~oll =t=0,

Since this gives a contradiction, we conclude thatf(v, t) does converge weakly
to ~o, as t--, oo.
References
1.
2.
3.
4.

ARKERYD,L., On the Boltzrnann equation. Part I : Existence, preceding in this issue.

ARKERYD,L., All existence theorem for the Boltzmann equation. (1971), to appear.
CARLEMAN, T., Th6orie cin6tique des gaz. Uppsala 1957.

GraBs, J. W., Collected Works, Vol. II. New Haven 1906 (see p. 130).

5. MORGENSTERN,D . Analytical studies related to the Maxwell-Boltzmann equation. J. Rational

Mech. Anal. 4, 533-555 (1955).
6. POVZNER,A. JA., About the Boltzmann equation in kinetic gas theory. Mat. Sbom. 58 (100),
65-86 (1962).
Department of Mathematics
Chalmers University of Technology
and
University of G6teborg

(Received October 5, 1971)