The Oberbeck–Boussinesq approximation in critical spaces

Abstract

In this paper we study the validity of the so-called Oberbeck–Boussinesq approximation for compressible viscous perfect gases in the whole three-dimensional space. Both the cases of fluids with positive heat conductivity and zero conductivity are considered. For small perturbations of a constant equilibrium, we establish the global existence of unique strong solutions in a critical regularity functional framework. Next, taking advantage of Strichartz estimates for the associated system of acoustic waves, and of uniform estimates with respect to the Mach number, we obtain all-time convergence to the Boussinesq system with a explicit decay rate.