Hyperbolic equations and propagation

Track finite-speed propagation, characteristic structure, energy, discontinuities, and physically selected weak solutions.

10 published lessons1 module346 min of guided study
  1. 01
    Hyperbolic equations and propagationadvanced · 10 lessons

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Hyperbolic equations and propagation

Track finite-speed propagation, characteristic structure, energy, discontinuities, and physically selected weak solutions.

  1. 01

    Characteristic surfaces and hyperbolicity

    Read propagation directions from principal symbols while distinguishing scalar characteristic roots from a system's well-posedness structure.

    33 min
  2. 02

    Wave-equation energy and domain of dependence

    Use a local energy balance on shrinking balls to prove finite propagation for the constant-speed wave equation in any spatial dimension.

    34 min
  3. 03

    d'Alembert, Kirchhoff, and fundamental solutions

    Compare explicit free-wave formulas in one and three dimensions and explain where dimension-dependent tails enter.

    35 min
  4. 04

    First-order symmetric hyperbolic systems

    Construct a positive energy from the system matrices and diagonalize a linear acoustic example into counterpropagating fields.

    34 min
  5. 05

    Scalar conservation laws and characteristics

    Follow state-dependent characteristic speeds until the initial-label map loses invertibility and gradients become singular.

    34 min
  6. 06

    Shock formation and Rankine–Hugoniot

    Continue conservation across a moving jump using a signed distributional balance, without confusing that balance with entropy admissibility.

    34 min
  7. 07

    Entropy conditions and Kružkov solutions

    Select bounded scalar weak solutions with a full entropy family and state the assumptions behind uniqueness and L¹ contraction.

    36 min
  8. 08

    Riemann problems and rarefaction waves

    Solve a convex scalar jump problem by shock or a self-similar fan and evaluate the state selected at a fixed interface.

    34 min
  9. 09

    Systems of conservation laws and wave families

    Decompose coupled perturbations into characteristic families and state the local hypotheses behind nonlinear Riemann constructions.

    36 min
  10. 10

    Finite-volume fluxes and discrete entropy

    Separate conservation, flux consistency, monotonicity, and entropy dissipation in a fully discrete finite-volume update.

    36 min
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