Group analysis of the Fourier transform of the spatially homogeneous and isotropic Boltzmann equation with a source term

Abstract

The paper is devoted to group analysis of the spatially homogeneous and isotropic Boltzmann equation with a source term. In fact, the Fourier transform of the Boltzmann equation with respect to the molecular velocity variable is considered. Using a particular class of solutions, the determining equation for the admitted Lie group is reduced to a partial differential equation for the source function. The latter equation is analyzed by an algebraic method. A complete group classification of the Fourier transform of the Boltzmann equation is given. All invariant solutions of this equation are also presented in the paper.