Particle Dynamics Driven by Charge Exchange

Abstract

We introduce and analyse a mathematical model describing the dynamics of particles generated by charge-exchange interactions. The model extends the well-established exchange-driven growth model, previously studied in several works, by allowing for particle densities defined on the entire integer lattice. Despite the many similarities between the two models, substantial differences arise both in their qualitative behaviour and in their mathematical analysis. Under suitable assumptions on the kernel in the collision operator, we establish global well-posedness in the class of nonnegative densities with finite first moment. Moreover, under a detailed balance condition, we investigate the structure of equilibria and analyse their stability by means of entropy methods.