Convergence to Equilibrium of a Body Moving in a Kinetic Sea

Abstract

Abstract. We consider a continuum of particles that are acted upon by an external force G(t, x) and that collide with a rigid body. The body itself is subject to a constant force E as well as to the collective force of interaction with the particles. We assume that the particles that collide with the body reflect probabilistically with some probablility distribution K(v, u). Under certain conditions on G(t, x) and K(v, u), we identify an equilibrium velocity V∞ of the body and we prove that this equilibrium is asymptotically stable.