Singularities in Euler Flows: Multivalued Solutions, Shockwaves, and Phase Transitions

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze various types of critical phenomena in one-dimensional gas flows described by Euler equations. We give a geometrical interpretation of thermodynamics with a special emphasis on phase transitions. We use ideas from the geometrical theory of partial differential equations (PDEs), in particular symmetries and differential constraints, to find solutions to the Euler system. Solutions obtained are multivalued and have singularities of projection to the plane of independent variables. We analyze the propagation of the shockwave front along with phase transitions.