AI-Accelerated Operator Learning Framework for Rarefied Microflows

Abstract

The high computational cost of kinetic solvers such as DSMC remains a major challenge in rarefied flow simulations. This work presents a unified framework combining deep neural networks and neural operators to accelerate kinetic and hybrid solvers while preserving physical fidelity. GPU-native DNN surrogates eliminate costly moment-closure operations in Fokker Planck methods, achieving significant speedups without accuracy loss, while physics-guided and shock-aware DeepONet architectures enable accurate, data efficient modeling of multi regime micro nozzle, micro-step, and hypersonic flows. Extensions including ensemble uncertainty quantification and family-of-experts strategies further enhance robustness across wide Mach and Knudsen number ranges. Together, these results demonstrate a scalable and physics-consistent pathway toward real-time surrogate modeling in rarefied gas dynamics.