Validity of Prandtl's boundary layer from the Boltzmann theory

TL;DR

This paper rigorously derives the Prandtl boundary layer equations from the Boltzmann equations, providing the first such justification from kinetic theory to fluid dynamics in a mathematical framework.

Contribution

It is the first work to rigorously justify Prandtl equations from the hydrodynamic limit of Boltzmann equations, especially with shear flow data and analytic boundary estimates.

Findings

Established estimates for linearized Boltzmann with boundary conditions

Validated Prandtl equations as hydrodynamic limit

Developed techniques for boundary layer analysis in kinetic theory

Abstract

We justify Prandtl equations and higher order Prandtl expansion from the hydrodynamic limit of the Boltzmann equations. Our fluid data is of the form $\text{shear flow}$, plus $\sqrt\kappa$ order term in analytic spaces in $x_\parallel \in\mathbb T^2$ and Sobolev in $x_3\in\mathbb{R}_+$. This work is the first to rigorously justify the Prandtl equations from the hydrodynamic limits of the Boltzmann equations. The novelty lies in obtaining estimates for the linearized Boltzmann equation with a diffusive boundary condition around a Prandtl layer shear flow in analytic spaces. The key techniques involve delicate commutator estimates and the use of local conservation law.