Hypocoercivity of linear kinetic equations via Harris's Theorem

Abstract: We study convergence to equilibrium of the linear relaxation Boltzmann (also known as linear BGK) and the linear Boltzmann equations either on the torus $(x,v) \in \mathbb{T}^d \times \mathbb{R}^d$ or on the whole space $(x,v) \in \mathbb{R}^d \times \mathbb{R}^d$ with a confining potential. We present explicit convergence results in total variation or weighted total variation norms (alternatively $L^1$ or weighted $L^1$ norms). The convergence rates are exponential when the equations are posed on the torus, or with a confining potential growing at least quadratically at infinity. Moreover, we give algebraic convergence rates when subquadratic potentials considered. We use a method from the theory of Markov processes known as Harris's Theorem.