On variational formulation of entropy solutions to nonlinear conservation laws

Eitan Tadmor, Center for Scientific Computation and Mathematical Modeling

and Department of Mathematics University of Maryland

Abstract:
A proper notion of weak solutions for nonlinear conservation laws requires such solutions to be entropic. Entropy solutions are found to be at the crossroads, when reached from a microscopic description of kinetic formulation or from a macroscopic description as vanishing viscosity limits. In both cases, entropy solutions were also interpreted within a proper variational framework.

The notion of entropy, which is intimately connected with symmetry, is an extension imposed on nonlinear systems conservation laws. In this context, K. O. Friedrichs in his 1979 John von Neumann Lecture, asked

 

Now, in many branches of physics … symmetries play a fundamental role, but all these symmetries—as it seems to me—are assumed and not derived. I now wonder whether or not … symmetries can also be derived.”

 

In this lecture I will give a concise overview on the theory and computation of entropy solutions for nonlinear conservation laws, and I will present a new variational formulation which addresses the question raised by Friedrichs.