Exact solution of the (0+1)-dimensional Boltzmann equation for a massive gas

Understand

We solve the one-dimensional boost-invariant kinetic equation for a relativistic massive system with the collision term treated in the relaxation time approximation.

• The result is an exact integral equation which can be solved numerically by the method of iteration to arbitrary precision.
• We compare predictions for the shear and bulk viscosities of a massive system with those obtained from the exact solution.
• Finally, we compare the time evolution of the bulk pressure obtained from our exact solution with results obtained from the dynamical equations of second-order viscous hydrodynamics.