Diffusion approximation and entropy-based moment closure for kinetic equations

Abstract

It is a well-known fact that, in small mean free path regimes, kinetic equations can lead to diffusion equations. Besides, kinetic equations can be approached by a closed system of moments equations. In this paper, we are interested in a special closure based on an entropy minimization principle, as introduced earlier by Levermore. We investigate the behavior of the resulting nonlinear hyperbolic system in the diffusive scaling. We first establish various fundamental facts on this system, then we show that the hyperbolic system admits global smooth solutions, and is consistent with the diffusion limit. Similar features are also discussed for a simpler limited flux equation.