Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences, Vol.

20, 717736 (1997)

MOS subject classification: 47 D 06, 82 C 70

Study of the Free Streaming Operator in Slab Geometry

in Dependence of the Boundary Conditions
Silvia Totaro
Dipartimento di Matematica, Universita` di Siena, Via del Capitano 15, 53100 Siena, Italy

Communicated by G. F. Roach
We study the free streaming operator ' in a slab domain with boundary conditions described by a linear
matrix operator " acting between the incoming and outgoing particle fluxes. Under suitable assumptions
on the entries of ", it is proved that the resolvent operator of ' is positive. It is proved also that ' is the
generator of a positive strongly continuous semigroup, whose type depends on the norm of the entries of ".
Some examples are given. In particular the case of Maxwell type boundary conditions is studied and the
location of the spectrum of ' is improved. ( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997).
(No. of Figures: 0

No. of Tables: 0

No. of Refs: 16)

1. Introduction
In this paper we examine some properties of the free streaming operator !vy f/x
in a slab of thickness 2a with boundary conditions at the boundary surfaces x"!a
and x"#a described by a linear positive operator ", representing any possible linear
boundary condition (reflection, diffusion, periodic, Maxwell type, etc.).
It is known that the streaming operator endowed with no-reentry or dissipative
boundary conditions (e.g. [1, 4, 8]) generates a strongly continuous contractive semigroup in an space context, while conservative boundary conditions like specular
1
reflection with restitution coefficient equal to one lead to a group of unitary norm. It is
interesting to remark that the results known in the literature on the streaming
operator with general boundary conditions were essentially based on their dissipativity up to a few years ago. For instance, in [8] it is proved that the transport operator
corresponding to general conservative boundary conditions generates a strongly
continuous semigroup, but nothing is proved when the norm of the boundary
operator is larger than one.
This restriction was dropped first in [3], where mollified boundary conditions
were introduced to face the case of multiplying boundary conditions of Maxwell type
and then in [5] where the case of non-mollified multiplying boundary conditions of
Maxwell type was studied.
Mollified boundary conditions as well as the non-mollified Maxwells conditions with
multiplying boundaries undoubtedly have several interesting mathematical aspects.
CCC 01704214/97/08071720 $17.50
( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Received 1 May 1996

718

S. Totaro

In fact, such conditions may be of interest in connection with some biological

systems (a culture of bacteria, in which the food is concentrated in a thin layer close
to the boundary). On the other hand, all the results obtained on the type of the
semigroup generated by the streaming operator with boundary conditions represented by " also gives information on the location of the spectrum of the streaming
operator ' .
For instance, in [16], the location of the spectrum and of the resolvent set of the
streaming operator with Maxwells boundary conditions, with different coefficients on
each boundary wall, is studied and it is proved that in the case of conservative or
multiplying conditions on each boundary wall the corresponding steaming operator
generates a strongly continuous semigroup which is positive in the positive cone of an
-Banach space.
1
Moreover, in [5, 6, 16] it is shown that conservative boundary conditions lead to
a contraction semigroup, whereas multiplying boundary conditions lead to a quasibounded semigroup. The well-known result that a semigroup of contraction is
generated by ' , if E " E)1, is obtained in [6] as a particular case. However, in [6],
the resolvent operator is only proved to exist and to be positive, but it is not evaluated
explicitly.
On the other hand, in [7], a more general, but physically reasonable, situation is faced: a three-dimensional bounded convex domain with regular surface,
where, as in [6], the boundary conditions are introduced only in the abstract
sense, by means of an operator ". In [7], the resolvent operator R(z, ' ) is
expressed in terms of " and is proved to be bounded and positive. Then, by
using the properties of R(z, ' ), it is shown that, in case of multiplying
boundary conditions, ' generates a quasi-bonded semigroup whose type depend
on E"E.
Here, we study again the one-dimensional case, but under the assumption that
the boundary operator " is a matrix operator with bounded and positive entries.
The boundary operator and its properties are described in section 2. In section 3
the resolvent of ' is given in terms of the entries of " and it is proved to be
positive.
Hence, by using the HilleYosida theorem in the case of dissipative or conservative
boundary conditions and a result by Arendt [2], in the case of multiplying boundary
conditions, we prove the existence of the strongly continuous semigroup generated by
' , exp(t' ). We prove also that exp (t' ) is positive and we give the evaluation of its
type as a function of the norm of the entries of ".
In section 4, we analyse some known boundary conditions in terms of " and we
show how our methods can achieve and sometimes improve the results known in the
literature. Section 5 is devoted to an accurate analysis of the Maxwell type boundary
conditions with different coefficients on each boundary wall.
In fact, in [16] the case of globally multiplying boundary conditions is studied and
it is proved that ' has at least a real positive eigenvalue provided that the reflection
coefficients are small enough. Here, we prove that the estimate obtained in [16] for
the real positive eigenvalue of ' can be improved.
Finally an example of boundary condition of mixed type is given in which the
resolvent operator is computed explicitly. In particular, we obtain by direct computaMath. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Study of the Free Streaming Operator

719

tion an estimate of the norm of the resolvent operator and of the type of the semigroup
exp(t' ) of the same kind of the estimates given in section 3.
2. The boundary operator
Let
"(!a, a)](!1, 1).

(1)

we introduce the real Banach space X:

a

`1

P~a dx P1

X" (), E f E"

1

dy D f (x, y)D;

(2)

the positive cone X :

`
X "M f : f 3 X: f (x, y)*0 for a.e. (x, y) 3 N.
(3)
`
Define the following sets representing the incoming and the outgoing boundary of
the phase space :
(i)" (i) X (i)"(M!aN](0, 1))X(MaN](!1, 0)),
1
2
(0)" (0) X (0)"(M!aN](!1, 0))X(MaN](0, 1)).
1
2
Moreover, we introduce the following functional spaces:

(4)
(5)

X(i)" ((i), D yD dy)&X (i)]X (i)" ( (i), D yD dy)] ( (i), D y D dy),

(6)
1
1
2
1 1
1 2
E f (i); X(i) E"E f (i) ; X (i) E#E f (i) ; X (i) E
1
1
2
2
1
0
D f (a, y)D D y D dy;
(7)
" D f (!a, y)D y dy#
0
~1
X(0)" ((0), D y D dy)&X (0)]X (0)" ( (0), D yD dy)] ( (0), D y D dy), (8)
1
1
2
1 1
1 2
E f (0); X(0) E"E f (0) ; X (0) E#E f (0) ; X (0) E
1
1
2
2
0
1
D f (!a, y) D D yD dy# D f (a, y) D D y dy;
(9)
"
~1
0
where & means the identification of the spaces and the index (i) or (0) identifies the
element as belonging to X(i) or to X(0).
Let us introduce the boundry operator ",

D(")"X(0), R(")LX(i);

" 3 B(X(0); X(i)),

(10)

with the property that " is a positive operator:

""

"
"
11
12
"
"
21
22

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

(11)
Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

720

S. Totaro

with
" : X (0)PX (i), " 3 B(X (0) ; X (i) ),
r, s"1, 2,
(12)
rs
s
r
rs
s
r
" positive operators r, s"1, 2 (see also [11] for details).
rs
Correspondingly, the boundary conditions can be written as f (i)"" f (0) (see (17)).
Note that " O0, rOs, imply an interaction between the two boundary surfaces (see
rs
the periodic boundary conditions in section 4).
Let X (i) and X (0) be the positive cone of X(i) and X(0) respectively, then we define
`
`
the following kinds of boundary operators (or boundary walls) (see also [6] for
details):
(B1) dissipative boundary operator, if and only if there exists a positive constant
s(1 such that E" f (0) ; X (i) E)s E f (0) ; X (0) E, f (0) 3 X (0) ;
`
(B2) conservative foundary operator, if and only if E" f (0) ; X (i) E"E f (0) ; X (0) E,
f (0) 3 X (0) ;
`
(B3) multiplying boundary operator, if and only if there exists a positive constant
s*1 such that E" f (0); X(i)E*s E f (0); X(0)E, f (0) 3 X (0) .
`
Remark 1. Note that for f (0) 3 X (0), we have
`
E" f (0); X(i) E"E" f (0) ; X (i) E#E" f (0) ; X (i) E#E" f (0) ; X (i) E
11 1
1
12 2
2
21 1
1
#E" f (0) ; X (i) E,
(13)
22 2
2
because the operators " , r, s"1, 2, are positive.
rs
Hence, if some suitable positive constants s exist such that
rs
E" f (0) ; X (i) E*s E f (0) ; X (0) E, r, s"1, 2,
(14)
rs s
r
rs s
s
then (13) becomes
f (0); X(i)E*(s #s ) E f (0) ; X (i) E#(s #s ) E f (0) ; X (0) E
11
11
21
1
1
12
22
2
2
*min(s #s , s #s ) E f (0); X(0) E,
(15)
11
21 12
22
Hence, " satisfies (B3) if both s #s , s #s are greater than or equal to one.
11
21 12
22
We define, now, the streaming operator ' with domain including the boundary
condition defined by ":
E"

' f"!y

f
,
x

D(' )" f : f 3 X, y

(16)
f
3 X,
x

f D (i)"f (i) 3 X(i), f D (0)"f (0) 3 X(0),

f (i)"" f (0) , R(' )LX.

(17)

Remark 2. The derivative of f in (17) is meant in a distributional sense. Note that if

f 3 D(' ), then it is absolutely continuous with respect to x, hence the restrictions
f D (i) , f D (0) are meaningful. Note also that D(' ) is dense in X because it contains
C= [(!a, a)](!1, 1)].
0
Let us now prove some technical lemmas on the boundary operator ".
Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Study of the Free Streaming Operator

721

Lemma 1. he quantity
D"E" E E" E!E" E E" E
11
22
12
21
has the same sign of the quantity

(18)

E"J(E" E!E" E)2#4 E" E E" E!(E" E#E" E).

12
2
11
22
21
12
Moreover, if D"0, then E"0 and conversely.

(19)

Proof. If D'0, we have

(E" E#E" E)2#4D'(E" E#E" E)2.
12
21
12
21
However,

(20)

(E" E!E" E)2#4 E" E E" E"(E" E#E" E)2#4D.

12
21
11
22
12
21
Hence, we obtain from (20) that
J(E" E!E" E)2#4 E" E E" E'E" E#E" E ,
12
21
11
21
21
12
i.e. E'0. Conversely, if E'0, it can be proved that also D'0.
The case D(0, E(0 can be treated in an analogous way. Finally, if D"0, we
have
(E" E!E" E)2#4 E" E E" E"(E" E!E" E)2#4 E" E E" E
12
21
11
22
12
21
12
21
(21)
"(E" E#E" E)2.
21
12
Thus, E"0. Similarly, if E"0, it can be proved by using relation (21) that D"0
K
Lemma 2. If DO0 he following inequalities hold:
(i)

2D
'E" E,
12
E

(22)

(ii)

2D
'E" E,
21
E

(23)

where D and E are defined in emma 1.

Proof. Note that both hand sides of (22) and (23) are positive number, for Lemma 1.
We prove that (i) and (ii) can be proved in a similar way.
If D'0, we have
4 E" E2E" E2
11
22 !4E" E E" E E" E,
0(
11
22
21
E" E
12
4E" E2 E" E2
11
22
(E" E#E" E)2#4D(E" E2#
12
21
12
E" E2
12
4E" E E" E E" E
11
22
21 #E" E2#4E" E E" E!2 E" E E" E
!
21
22
11
12
21
E" E
12
2
2E" E E" E
11
22 !E" E .
(24)
" E" E#
12
21
E" E
12

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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722

S. Totaro

Since E" E#2E" E E" E/E" E!E" E'0, because D'0, we obtain from
12
11
22
12
21
(24)
2 E" E E" E
11
22 !E" E,
J(E" E#E" E)2#4D(E" E#
12
21
12
21
E" E
12
E" E J(E" E#E" E)2#4D(E" E2#2E" E E" E
12
12
21
12
11
22
!E" E E" E,
21
12
and finally
E" E[J(E" E#E" E)2#4D!E" E!E" E](2 E" E E" E
12
21
11
22
12
12
21
!2E" E E" E.
21
12
Hence
2D
E" E( .
12
E
K

The case D(0 can be treated in a similar way.

3. The resolvent operator and the semigroup

In order to show that ' is the generator of the strongly continuous semigroup
Mexp(t' ), t*0N, it is necessary to estimate the norm of the resolvent of ' , R(z, ' ).
Therefore, we consider the resolvent equation
(zI!' ) f"g,

(25)

where z is a given positive constant, g is an assigned element of X, and the unknown

f must be sought in D(' ). We obtain from (25)
vy

f
#zf"g, z'0, g 3 X,
x

(26)

where the unknown f must satisfy the boundary conditions specified in definition
(17). The solution of equation (26) has the following form:

B P

P A

1
z(a#x)
1 X
z(x!x@)
f (x, y)" C ( y) exp !
exp !
#
g(x@, y) dx@,
vy 1
vy
vy
vy
~a
x 3 [!a,#a], y 3 (0, 1),
(27a)

1
z(a!x)
a
1
z(x!x@)
f (x, y)"
exp !
C ( y) exp
#
g (x@, y) dx@,
2
vD yD
vy
v D yD
vy
x
x 3 [!a,#a], y 3 (!1, 0),
(27b)
where the functions C , C , appearing in (27a), (27b), are to be determined by using
1 2
the boundary conditions appearing in (17).
We now explain a detailed notation for operators that we shall use in the sequel. In
a general context, if K is an operator from a functional space to a functional space
1
Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Study of the Free Streaming Operator

723

, we shall write (K) (u( y)) ( y@) to emphasize that K acts on a function u 3
2
1
depending on y and the range element, belonging to , depends on y@.
2
Here and henceforth, we shall indicate also the range of the variable y@ for the sake
of clearness when it is necessary.
Since f must belong to D(' ), we have from (27), recalling definition (7) and (8)
f (i) ( y)"C ( y)/vy, y 3 (0, 1), f (i) ( y)"C ( y)/vD y D, y 3 (!1, 0),
1
1
2
2
2za
f (0) ( y)"(C ( y)/v D yD) exp
#G ( y), y 3 !
( 1, 0),
1
2
2
vy

A B
A B

2za
#G ( y), y 3 (0, 1),
f (0) ( y)"(C ( y)/vy) exp !
1
2
1
vy

(28)
(29a)
(29b)

with

B
B

1 a
z(a!x@)
G ( y)"
exp !
g (x@, y) dx@, y 3 (0, 1),
(30a)
1
vy
vy
~a
1
a
z(a#x@)
G ( y)"
exp
g (x@, y) dx@, y 3 (!1, 0).
(30b)
2
vD yD
vy
~a
Note that G , G are known elements of X (0) and X (0) , respectively.
1 2
1
2
To allow the abstract formulation of (27), let us define the following operators
depending on the parameter z:

BA

0
A
12
(A f (i)( y)) ( y@)"
z
A
0
21
D(A )"X(i), R(A )"X(0),
z
z

B A

f (i) ( y)
(A f (i) ( y)) (y@)
1
12 2
"
;
f (i) ( y)
(A f (i) ( y))(y@)
2
21 1

(31)

with
A : X (i)PX (0), (A f (i) (y)) ( y)"f (i) ( y) exp
12
2
1
12 2
2

A B
A B

2az
, y3!
( 1, 0),
vy

2az
A : X (i)PX (0), (A f (i) (y)) ( y)"f (i) ( y) exp !
, y 3 (0, 1).
21
1
2
21 1
1
vy

(32)
(33)

Lemma 3. et z'0, then the operator defined in (31) is linear and bounded, i.e.
A 3 B(X(i), X(0)), EA E)exp (!2az/v). Moreover, A maps the positive cone X (i) into
z
z
z
`
the positive cone X (0).
`
Proof. We have from (32), (33)

P~1 D f (i)2( y)D exp A vy B D yD dy

0
2az
2az
)exp !
D f (a, y)D D yD dy"exp !
A v B P~1
A v B E f (i)2; X2(i) E,

EA

f (i) ; X (0) E"

12 2
1

2az

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

724

S. Totaro

P0
A B
1
2az
2az
D f (!a, y) y dy"exp !
)exp !
A v B P0
A v B E f (i)1; X(i)1 E.

EA

Hence,

f (i) X (0) E"

21 1 2

2az
D f (i) ( y)D exp !
y dy
1
vy

EA f (i); X(0) E"EA f (i) ; X (0) E#EA f (i) ; X (0) E

z
12 2
1
21 1
2
2az
2az
( E f (i) ; X (i) E#E f (i) ; X (i) E)"exp !
E f (i); X(i) E.
)exp !
2
2
1
1
v
v

The positivity of A follows from definition (32), (33).

z
We have from (27)(30) by using definition (31)
f (0)"A f (i)#G,
z
where

(34)

A B

G
1
G
2
with G , G defined in (30). Then, (17) gives
1 2
f (i)""(A f (i)#G).
z
Now, by taking into account (30) and (31) we obtain from (36)
G"

f (i)"" (A f (i) )#" (A f (i) )#H ,

1
11 11 2
12 21 1
1
f (i)"" (A f (i) )#" (A f (i) )#H ,
2
21 12 2
22 21 1
2

(35)

(36)

(37a)
(37b)

where
H "" G #" G ,
(38a)
1
11 1
12 2
H "" G #" G .
(38b)
2
21 1
22 2
Note that H , H belong to X (i), X (i) respectively and are known terms. Then, we get
1 2
1
2
from (37)
(I!" A ) f (i)"" (A f (i) )#H ,
(39a)
12 21 1
11 12 2
1
(I!" A ) f (i)"" (A f (i) )#H .
(39b)
21 12 2
22 21 1
2
Lemma 4. et D and E be defined as in emma 1; the resolvent operator R(z, ' ) exists
for z'max (0, b) where b is defined in the following way:

v
2D
ln
2a
E
b"
v
ln (E" E#E" E)
21
12
2a

if DO0,
if D"0.

Moreover, R(z, ' ), z'max(0, b), is defined on the whole space X and is bounded and
positive.
Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Study of the Free Streaming Operator

Proof. If " "0, we obtain from (39a)

12
f (i)"" (A f (i) )#H ,
1
11 12 2
1
hence (39b) becomes

725

(40)

(I!" A !" A " A ) f (i)"" (A H )#H ,

21 12
22 21 11 12 2
22 21 1
2
or formally
f (i)"(I!" A !" A " A )~1(" (A H )#H ).
2
21 12
22 21 11 12
22 21 1
2
The operator (I!" A !" A " A )~1 exists provided that
21 12
22 21 11 12
E" A #" A " A )(1.
21 12
22 21 11 12
Relation (41) is fulfilled if the parameter z is such that

(41)

4az
2az
#E" E exp !
!1(0.
E" E E" E exp !
21
22
11
v
v
Hence,
v
z' [ln(2E" E E" E)!ln (JE" E2#4E" E E" E!E" E)]. (42)
22
11
21
11
22
21
2a
If even " "0, we have
21
v
z' (ln (E" EE" E)),
22
11
2a

(43)

which can easily be obtained by solving directly (39a), (39b) with " "" "0.
12
21
In the general case, we have from (39a)
f (i)"(I!" A )~1(" (A f (i) )#H ),
1
12 21
11 11 2
1
provided that

(44)

E" A E(1,
12 21
i.e.
v
z' ln E" E.
12
2a

(45)

However, by substituting (44) into (39b), we obtain

(I!" A ) f (i)"" (A (I!" A )~1(" (A f (i) )#H )#H ,
21 12 2
22 21
12 21
11 12 2
1
2

(46)

that is
(I!" A !" A (I!" A )~1" A ) f (i)
21 12
22 21
12 21
11 12 2
"" A (I!" A )~1H #H .
(47)
22 21
12 21
1
2
Equation (47) has a solution provided that the operator (I!" A !" A
21 12
22 21
(I !" A )~1" " )~1 exists, i.e.
12 21
11 12
E" A #" A (I!" A )~1" A E(1.
(48)
21 12
22 21
12 21
11 12
( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

726

S. Totaro

Relation (48) is fulfilled if

4az
#(E" E
(E" EE" E!E" EE" E) exp !
21
22
11
12
21
v

2az
!1(0,
#E" E) exp !
12
v

(49)

that is the parameter z must satisfy

2D
v
,
z' ln
E
2a

(50)

where D and E are defined in Lemma 1 and DO0.

If D"0, we have that (49) is fulfilled if
v
z' ln (E" E#E" E).
12
21
2a

(51)

If z satisfies (50) or (51) also (45) is fulfilled owing to Lemma 2. Note that, if D"0 and
also E" E"E" E"0, (49) is automatically satisfied. Note also that, if we solve
12
21
first (39b) and then substitute in (39a), we obtain the same result because of Lemma 2.
Finally, we observe that R(z, ' ) is completely determined by solving system (39),
taking into account (27); hence R(z, ' ) is defined on the whole space X and it is
a positive operator because " , A are positive operators, r, s"1, 2 (see Lemma 3).
rs rs
Theorem 1. et " be defined by (11); then the corresponding free streaming operator
' is the generator of a strongly continuous semigroup of type u(' ))u , where
0
0
if E"E)1,
u "
0
max(0, b) if " satisfies (B3),

with b defined in emma 4.

Proof. We have from Lemma 4 that R(z, ' ), z'max(0, b), is a positive operator and
its domain is the whole space X, then, R(z, ' ), z'max(0, b), is a bounded operator,
by applying a result of [15] (Theorem 5.3, p. 84). Moreover, by using the positivity of
R(z, ' ) we obtain integrating both sides of equation (26) over , with z'0 and
g3X :
`
`1
`a
f
!vy
dx dy"E gE.
(52)
z E f E!
x
~1
~a
By using the boundary conditions (11), we have

P AP

P~1 A P~a
`1

`a

vy

f
`1
0
y f (#a, y; t) dy#
D yD f (!a, y; t) dy
dx dy"
x
0
~1
0
`1
D yD f #
( a, y; t) dy!
y f (!a, y; t) dy
!
~1
0
"E f (0); X(0) E!E f (i); X(i) E.
(53)

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( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

727

Study of the Free Streaming Operator

If f belongs to D(' ), f (i)"" f (0), hence E f (i); X(i)E)E"E E f (0); X(0) E. Thus,

P~1 A P~a
`1

`a

f
dx dy*E f (0); X(0) E(1!E "E).
x

Therefore, if " is a dissipative boundary operator, i.e. E"E)1, we obtain from (52)
E g E*zE f E,
because z'0, and the second term of the left-hand side of (52) is non-negative. Thus,
1
ER(z, ' ) gE) E gE.
z
By using the HilleYosida theorem [4, 10, 12, 14], it follows that, if b)0, ' is the
infinitesimal generator of a strongly continuous semigroup Mexp (t' ), t*0N whose
type is 0, i.e. ' 3 G(1, 0; X), and
E exp (t' ) f E)E f E,

f 3 X.

If " is a conservative boundary operator, then (52) owing to (B2) becomes

zE f E"E g E,
and so
1
E R(z, ' )g E" E g E.
z
Hence, ' is the infinitesimal generator of a strongly continuous conservative
semigroup Mexp (t' )), t*0N [4, 10, 14] such that
Eexp (t' ) f E"E f E, f 3 X.
If b'0 and " is a dissipative or conservative boundary operator, the same result
follows from [8] (Theorem 2.3, p. 411).
Let us now assume that the operator ", defined in (11), is a multiplying boundary
operator according to definition (B3). In this case, relation (53) becomes

P~1 A P~a y x dxB dy)(1!s) E f (0); X(0)E,

(54)

EgE)zE f E,

(55)

`1

`a

where s is a suitable constant, s'1. Therefore, we obtain from (52)

because the second term of the left-hand side of (52) is non-positive for (54) and so
1
ER(z, ' ) f E* E f E,
z

z'max (0, b).

(56)

Finally, Theorem 1 is provided by applying Theorem 2.5 of [2]. The inequality

u(' ))u is due to the fact that we do not know whether u belongs to the
0
0
spectrum of ' , p(' ) [9, 13].
K
Remark 3. The same result of Theorem 1 can be achieved if, instead of a multiplying
", we deal with a boundary operator " whose norm is greater than 1, is invertible and
( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

728

S. Totaro

"~1 is a bounded positive operator such that E"~1E)1 [6]. In fact, in this case
relation (53) becomes

P~1 A P~a y x dxB dy"E"~1f (i); X(0)E!E f (i); X(i) E

`1

`a

)(E"~1E!1) E f (i); X(i)E,

(57)

because if f (i)"" f (0), then f (0)""~1f (i). Therefore, we obtain (55) from (57).
4. Examples of boundary operators (Part I)
Here we give some examples of streaming operators ' with boundary conditions
which satisfy the assumption of Theorem 1.
Let us consider the following conditions of specular reflection:
f (!a, y)"o f (!a, y), y 3 (0, 1);
(58)
1
f (a, y)"o f (a,!y), y 3 !
( 1, 0);
(59)
2
where o and o are two positive numbers.
1
2
If o "o "1, (58), (59) are the conditions of specular reflection with no capture.
1
2
The abstract formulation of (58), (59) in terms of " is the following:

" f (0)"

0
o
1
0 o
2

BA B A B

f (0)
g (i)
1 " 1 ,
f (0)
g (i)
2
2

(60)

where
f (0)"f (!a, y), y(0; f (0)"f (a, y), y'0;
1
2
g (i)"f (!a, y), y'0; g (i)"f (a, y), y(0
1
2
(see also (7), (9)).
We have that " is a bounded operator and
E" E"o , E" E"o , E" E"E" E"0.
11
1
22
2
12
21
Moreover " is a positive operator, as one can see from (60).
In [16] it is shown that the resolvent operator R(z, ' ) is defined for
z'max (0, (v/2a) log o), where o"max (o , o ) and is a positive operator. Moreover,
1 2
it is also proved in [16] that the operator ' is the generator of a strongly continuous
semigroup of contractions if both o , o are less than or equal to 1, or a strongly
1 2
continuous quasi-bounded semigroup of type u)(v/2a) log o if both o , o are
1 2
greater than 1. On the other hand, since D"o o , E"2J(o o ), we obtain from
1 2
1 2
Lemma 4 that R(z, ' ) exists for z'(v/2a) ln J(o o ) and is a positive operator.
1 2
Hence, ' is a generator of a strongly continuous semigroup of type
u)u "max(0, (v/2a) ln J(o o ).
0
1 2
Note that the estimate of the type u is better than that found in [16] in the case
when the corresponding boundary operator is multiplying (see also section 5 for other
details).
Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Study of the Free Streaming Operator

729

Another example of boundary conditions is given by the periodic boundary

conditions [1, 6]
f (a, y)"a f (!a, y), a '0, y 3 (!1, 0),
1
1
f!
( a, y)"a f (a, y), a '0, y 3 (0, 1),
2
2
where a and a are given parameters which link the particle fluxes at the boundaries
1
2
x"!a and x"a (usually, a "a "1).
1
2
The boundary operator " is then defined as

" f (0)"

0 a
2
a
0
1

BA B A B

f (0)
g (i)
1 " 1 ,
(0)
f
g (i)
2
2

(61)

where
f (0)"f (!a, y), y(0; f (0)"f (a, y), y'0;
1
2
g (i)"f (!a, y), y'0; g (i)"f (a, y), y(0.
1
2

(62)

We have that " is a bounded operator and

E" E"E" E"0, E" E"a ,
11
22
12
2

E" E"a .
21
1

(63)

Moreover " is a positive operator, as one can see from (62).

The resolvent operator R(z, ' ) is defined as follows:
R(z, ' )g

1
1
a
!z(a!x@)
"
exp
g(x@, y) dx@
vy 1!a exp(!2az/vy)
vy
~a
2

P~a exp A

H
A

!z(x!x@)
g(x@, y) dx@ , y 3 (0, 1);
vy

1
a
z(a#x@)
1
exp
g(x@, y) dx@
"
vy
v D yD 1!a exp(!2az/vD yD)
1
~a

Px A

exp

z(x!x@)
g(x@, y) dx@ , y 3 !
( 1, 0).
vy

In [1, 6] it is shown that the resolvent operator R(z, ' ) is defined for
z'max(0, (v/2a) log a), a"max(a , a ) and is a positive operator.
1 2
Moreover, the operator ' is the generator of a strongly continuous semigroup of type u)max(0, (v/2a) log a). The semigroup is a semigroup of contractions if a)1, whereas the semigroup is quasi-bounded if both a and a are greater
1
2
than 1.
In this case we have D"!a a , E"J(a !a )2!(a #a ), 2D/E"
1 2
1
2
1
2
max (a , a ), hence Lemma 4 and Theorem 1 give the same results of [6].
1 2
( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

730

S. Totaro

5. Examples of boundary operators (Part II)

Let us consider here the so-called Maxwell type boundary conditions:
f (!a, y)"o f (!a,!y)#2d
1
1
f (a, y)"o f (a,!y)#2d
2
2

P~1 D y@ D f (!a, y@) dy@,

P0 D y@ D f (a, y@) dy@,

y 3 (0, 1),

y3!
( 1, 0),

(64)

with o , o , d and d non-negative constants.

1 2 1
2
We have [5, 6] E" E"o #d , E" E"o #d , E" E"E" E"0, hence
11
1
1
22
2
2
12
21
the boundary operator is of multiplying type if both s "o #d , s "o #d are
1
1
1 2
2
2
greater than 1.
In [16] it is shown that the resolvent operator R(z, ' ) is defined for z'max
(0, (v/2a) log s , (v/2a) log s ), and is a positive operator. It is shown also that the
1
2
operator ' is a generator of a strongly continuous semigroup of contractions if both
s , s are less or equal to 1 or a strongly continuous quasi-bounded semigroup of type
1 2
0(u)(v/2a) log s with s"max (s , s ) if both s , s are greater than 1.
1 2
1 2
On the other hand, by using the results of Lemma 4, we obtain that R(z, ' ) with
" defined by means of (64), exists for z'max (0, (v/2a) ln Js , s ) and is a positive
1 2
operator, because in this case D"s s , E"2J(s s ).
1 2
1 2
When s )1, s )1 (the case is completely studied in [8, 16]) ' generates
1
2
a semigroup of contractions. When both s and s are greater than 1 the correspond1
2
ing boundary operator is of multiplying type (see Remark 1) and so from (B3) and (64),
it follows that the operator ' is a generator of a strongly continuous semigroup of
type u)u , with
0
v
u " ln J(s s ).
0 2a
1 2

(65)

Note that the estimate (65) of the type u is better than that found in [16].
Lemma 4 allows us also to give the location of the spectrum of ' . In fact, Lemma
4 deals also with the case when s *1 (s )1), s )1, (s *1). In this case we have
1
1
2
2
that the boundary wall x"!a is multiplying (dissipative) according to definition
(B3), whereas the other, x"a, is dissipative (multiplying). The relation s s (1
1 2
means that the slab is globally dissipative and the constant b defined in Lemma 4 is
negative.
If s s "1, but s O1, s O1, b turns out to be 0. In this case 0 is really the spectral
1 2
1
2
bound of ' , because in [16] it is proved that, if s s "1, 0 is an eigenvalue of ' .
1 2
This fact has a direct physical meaning because in this case the slab is globally
conservative. If s s '1 the slab is globally multiplying. In this case, it is proved in
1 2
[16] that if o o (1, a real number zN is an eigenvalue of ' if '(zN )"0, where
1 2

AP

'(z)"

1 1!o s exp (!4az/vy)

2 1
2y dy
1!o o exp (!4az/vy)
0
1 2

Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Study of the Free Streaming Operator

AP
AP

B AP
B

731

1 1!o s exp !
( 4az/vy)
1
d exp (!2az/vy)
1 2
1
2y dy !
2y dy
1!o o exp (!4az/vy)
1!o o exp (!4az/vy)
0
1 2
0
1 2
1
d exp (!2az/vy)
2
]
2y dy .
(66)
1!o o exp (!4az/vy)
0
1 2
It can be shown that '(z) is a continuous strictly increasing function [16] and the
Appendix) and that
]

1!s s
1 2 (0.
'(0)"
1!o o
1 2
We prove now that
'

v
ln s s *0,
1 2
2a

(67)

v
ln s s "I I !I I ,
1 2
1 2
3 4
2a

(68)

hence there exists a unique real positive eigenvalue of ' , zN 3 (0, (v/2a) ln s s ].
1 2
Note that the set Mz 3 C: Re z'(v/2a) ln s s NLo(' ), where o(' ) is the resol1 2
vent set of ' . This improves the result obtained in [16], when only the existence of
zN 3 (0, v/2a) ln s] was proved. To prove (67), observe that
'
where
1 1!o s (s s )~1@y
1 1!o s (s s )~1@y
2 1 1 2
1 2 1 2
2y dy, I "
2y dy,
2
1!o o (s s )~1@y
1!o o (s s )~1@y
0
0
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
1 d (s s )~1@2y
1 d (s s )~1@2y
1 1 2
2 1 2
2y dy, I "
2y dy.
I "
4
3
1!o o (s s )~1@y
1!o o (s s )~1@y
0
1 2 1 2
0
1 2 1 2
We have

P
P

I "
1

P
P

(69)
(70)

0)(s s )~1@y)(s s )~1, y 3 (0, 1),

1 2
1 2
hence
s s !o s
2 1"s d (s s )~1
1!o s (s s )~1@y*1!o s (s s )~1" 1 2
2 1 1 2
2 1 1 2
1 2 1 2
s s
1 2
"s d (s s )~1@2(s s )~1@2*s d (s s )~1@2y(s s )~1@2, y 3 (0, 1).
1 2 1 2
1 2
1 2 1 2
1 2
By multiplying both sides of (71) by 1/(1!o o (s s )~1@y)'1, we obtain
1 2 1 2
1!o s (s s )~1@y s d (s s )~1@2y(s s )~1@2
2 1 1 2
1 2
' 1 2 1 2
, y 3 (0, 1).
(1!o o (s s )~1@y
1!o o (s s )~1@y
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
Then, by multiplying (72) by 2y and by integrating over [0, 1], we obtain
I *s (s s )~1@2I .
1
1 1 2
3
In an analogous way, we obtain
I *s (s s )~1@2I .
2
2 1 2
4
( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

(71)

(72)

(73)

(74)
Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

732

S. Totaro

Thus,
I I *s (s s )~1@2s (s s )~1@2I I ,
1 2
1 1 2
2 1 2
3 4

(75)

hence
I I *I I ,
(76)
1 2
3 4
and so (67) follows from (68) and (76).
We conclude with an example of boundary conditions which allow us to analyse
one type of multiplying boundary conditions described in Remark 1.
Let us consider the followig boundary conditions:
f (!a, y)"o f (!a,!y)#2d
1
1

P1 D y@D f (!a, y@) dy@#a2 f (a, y),

y 3 (0, 1),
(77a)

f (a, y)"0, y 3 (!1, 0),

(77b)

with o , d and a non-negative constants. We have [5, 6] E" E"o #d ,

1 1
2
11
1
1
E" E"a , E" E"E" E"0, hence the boundary operator is of multiplying
12
2
22
21
type if o #d *1, a *1, because from Remark 1 we have s "o #d ,
1
1
2
11
1
1
s "a .
12
2
Note that conditions (77) deal with a boundary wall which can reflect, diffuse and
have periodic multiplying properties, whereas the other boundary wall is dissipative.
Correspondingly, in the matrix representing ", " "" "0 and b"(v/2a) ln a .
21
22
2
Note also that the constant a plays a fundamental role to state the multiplying
2
property of ". This fact is evident from the direct computation of E" f (0) ; X (i) E. In
fact, we have for f (0) 3 X (0) ,
`
1
0
E f (i); X(i)E"E" f (0); X(i) E" D y@ D f (!a, y@) dy@#
D y@ D f (a, y@) dy@
0
~1
1
1
0
2d y dy
D y@ D f (!a, y@) dy@
" o f (!a,!y) y dy#
1
1
0
0
~1
1
# a f (a, y) y dy
2
0
0
0
1
f (!a, y@) D y@ Ddy@#d
D y@D f (!a, y@) dy@#a
f (a, y)y dy
"o
1
2
1
~1
~1
0
"(o #d ) E f (0) ; X (0) E#a E f (0) ; X (0) E*min (o #d , a ) E f (0); X(0) E.
1
1
1
2
2 2
2
1
1 2
Hence, the operator " defined by (77) is multiplying if o #d *1 and a *1. We can
1
1
2
find the results of Theorem 1 by means of the direct computation of R(z, ' ). We have
from (27) and (77) that the solution of the resolvent equation (26) is

P
AP

P
P

BP

B P

1
z(a#x)
1 x
z(x!x@)
f (x, y)" C ( y) exp !
exp !
#
1
vy
vy
vy
vy
~a
g(x@, y) dx@, x 3 [!a,#a], y 3 (0, 1),
Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

B
(78a)

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Study of the Free Streaming Operator

733

a
1
z(x!x@)
exp !
f (x, y)"
g(x@, y) dx@,
v D yD
vy
x

x 3 [!a,#a], y 3 (!1, 0),

(78b)

where the function C is determined by the following relation derived from (77):
1

C ( y) 1!a exp
1
2

!2az
vy

BB P
B
"o
1

~a

exp

P~a exp A vy g(x@, y) dx@

0
a
!z(a#x@)
dy@
exp
#2d y
1 P
P~a A vy@ B g(x@, y@) dx@,
~1

#a
2

!z(a#x@)
g(x@,!y) dx@
vy

!z(a!x@)

y 3 (0, 1).

(79)

If z'(v/2a) ln a *0 and g 3 X , C ( y) results to be positive. Hence, since f turns

2
` 1
out to be positve if g 3 X , the resolvent operator is positive for z'(v/2a) ln a .
`
2
In order to evaluate the norm of R(z, ' ) let us integrate (78) over
[!a,#a]][!1,#1].

P~1 dy P~a f (x, y) dx"P0 dy P~a dx A vy C1 (y) exp A! vy BB

`1
`a
1 x
z(x!x@)
dy
dx
exp !
#
P0 P~a A vy P~a A vy B g(x@, y) dx@B
0
`a
1
a
z(x!x@)
dy
dx exp !
#
P~1 P~a A v D y D Px A vy B g(x@, y) dx@B dx
`1
`a
1
z(a#x)
"
P0 dy P~a dxA v y C1 ( y) exp A! vy BB
`1
`a
zx@
a 1
zx
#
P0 dy P~a dx@ exp A vy B g(x@, y) A P vy exp A!vy B dxB
0
`a
zx@
x{ 1
zx
#
P~1 dy P~a dx@ exp A vy B g(x@, y) A P~a v D yD exp A!v D y D B dxB
1 `1
2za
dy C ( y) 1!exp !
"
1 A
zP
A vy BB
0
`a
z(a!x@)
1 `1
dy
dx@ 1!exp
#
P~a A A vy BB g(x@, y)
zP
0
`a
z(a#x@)
1 0
dy
dx@ 1!exp
#
P~a A A v D y D BB g(x@, y).
zP
~1
`1

`a

`1

`a

z(a#x)

x@

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

(80)

Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

734

S. Totaro

Since a *1, (1!exp (!2za/vy)) (1!a exp (!2za/vy))~1*1, by integrating both

2
2
sides of (79), we obtain
`1

P1

A BB
P P A
B
P P A
B
P P A
B

2za
dy C ( y) 1!exp !
1
vy

*o

`1

dy

!z(a#x@)
vy

exp

~a

`1

#a
2
#2d

dy

!z(a!x@)
g(x@, y) dx@
vy

exp

~a

~1

dy@

g(x@,!y) dx@

!z(a#x@)
g(x@, y@) dx@.
v D y@ D

exp

~a

(81)

Thus, if g 3 X we have from (80)

`

`1
a
!z(a!x@)
1
dy
exp
E f E* E g E#(a !1)
g(x@, y) dx@
2
vy
z
0
~a
#(o #d !1)
1
1

P0 dy P~a exp A
`1

!z(a#x@)
g(x@,!y) dx@ . (82)
vy

Relation (82) yields

1
E f E* E g E,
z
because the second and third terms of the right-hand side of (81) are non-negative due
to the assumptions on o #d , a . Hence,
1
1 2
1
E R(z, ' ) g E* E g E
z

(83)

for z'b"(v/2a) ln a .
2
Thus, by applying the same method used to prove Theorem 1 we can
conclude that ' generates a strongly continuous semigroup whose type is
u )b. Note that it is crucial, in the direct computation of the norm of R(z, ' ),
0
that a *1.
2
Acknowledgements
This work was partially supported by the Italian Ministero dellUniversita` e della Ricerca Scientifica
e Technologica 40% Project Problemi nonlineari nellanalisi e nelle applicazioni fisiche, chimiche e biologiche: aspetti analitici, modellistici e computazionali and 60% research funds, as well as by GNFM of
Italian CNR.
Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

735

Study of the Free Streaming Operator

Appendix
The function '(z) defined in (66) is strictly increasing in [0, (v/2a) ln Js s ]. We
1 2
recall that s "o #d , i"1, 2, s s '1, o o (1. In fact, we have
i
i
i
1 2
1 2
'(z)"J (z) J (z)!J (z) J (z),
(A1)
1
2
3
4
where
1 1!o s exp (!4az/vy)
2 1
J (z)"
2y dy,
1
1!o o exp(!4az/vy)
0
1 2
1 1!o s exp (!4az/vy)
1 2
2y dy,
J (z)"
2
1!o o exp(!4az/vy)
0
1 2
1
d exp (!2az/vy)
1
2y dy,
J (z)"
3
1!o o exp(!4az/vy)
0
1 2
1
d exp (!2az/vy)
2
2y dy.
(A2)
J (z)"
4
1!o o exp(!4az/vy)
0
1 2
Moreover, if z, z@ 3 [0, (v/2a) ln Js s ], z'z@,
1 2
J (z)!J (z@)
1
1
1 1!o s exp (!4az/vy) 1!o s exp (!4az@/vy)
2 1
2 1
"
!
2y dy
1!o o exp(!4az/vy) 1!o o exp(!4az@/vy)
0
1 2
1 2

P
P
P
P

PA

"

PA

P A
P

1 o o (exp (!4az/vy)!exp (!4az@/vy))#o s (exp (!4az@/vy)!(exp (!4az/vy))

1 2
2 1
2y dy
(1!o o (exp (!4az/vy)!(1!o o exp (!4az@/vy))
0
1 2
1 2

(o s !o o ) (exp !
( 4az@/vy)!exp (!4az/vy))
2 1
1 2
2y dy
(1!o o exp (!4az/vy)) (1!o o exp !
( 4az@/vy))
0
1 2
1 2
1
o d (exp (!4az@/vy)!exp (!4az/vy))
2 1
2y dy.
"
(1!o o exp (!4az/vy)) (1!o o exp (!4az@/vy))
0
1 2
1 2
"

(A3)

Since
exp (!4az@/vy)!exp (!4az/vy)'0, z'z@
and
(1!o o exp (!4az/vy)) (1!o o exp (!4az@/vy))'0,
1 2
1 2
z, z@ 3 [0, (v/2a) ln Js s ],
1 2
we can conclude that
J (z)!J (z@)"
1
2
1
o d (exp (!4az@/vy)!exp (!4az/vy))
2 1
2y dy'0,
(A4)
(1!o o exp (!4az/vy))(1!o o exp (!4az@/vy))
0
1 2
1 2
z, z@ 3 [0, (v/2a) ln Js s ], z'z@. Hence, the function J (z) is strictly increasing in
1 2
1
[0, (v/2a) ln Js s ]. In an analogous way we can prove that J (z) is strictly increasing
2
1 2
in [0, (v/2a) ln Js s ].
1 2

( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Math. Meth. Appl. Sci., Vol. 20, 717736 (1997)

736

S. Totaro

However, the function J (z) is strictly decreasing in [0, (v/2a) ln Js s ]. In fact, if

3
1 2
z, z@ 3 [0, (v/2a) ln Js s ], z'z@, we have
1 2
J (z)!J (z@)"
3
3
d
1

d
1

1 exp (!2az/vy) (1!o o exp (!4az@/vy))!exp (!2az@/vy)(1!o o exp (!4az@/vy))

1 2
1 2
2y dy"
(1!o o exp (!4az/vy)) (1!o o exp (!4az@/vy))
0
1 2
1 2

1 (exp (!2az/vy)!exp (!2az@/vy))#o o (exp (!2az/vy)(exp (!2az@/vy)((exp (!2az/vy)!(exp (!2az@/vy))

1 2
2y dy.
(1!o o (exp (!4az/vy)) (1!o o (exp (!4az@/vy))
0
1 2
1 2

Since
exp (!2az/vy)!exp (!2az@/vy)'0,

z'z@

and
(1!o o exp (!4az/vy) (1!o o (exp (!4az@/vy))'0,
1 2
1 2
z, z@ 3 [0, (v/2a) ln Js s ],
1 2
we can conclude that J (z)!J (z@)(0, z, z@ 3 [0, (v/2a) ln Js s ], z'z@. Hence, the
3
3
1 2
function J (z) is strictly decreasing in [0, (v/2a) ln Js s ].
3
1 2
In an analogous way we can prove that J (z) is strictly decreasing in
4
[0, (v/2a) ln Js s ]. Finally, the function '(z) defined in (66) is strictly increasing in
1 2
[0, (v/2a) ln Js s ] from (A1).
1 2
References
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( 1997 by B. G. Teubner StuttgartJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd.