An Inverse Problem for Determining the Piston Speed from a Given Lipschitz Leading Shock

Abstract

We analyze an inverse problem for determining the piston speed and the associated flow field from a prescribed leading shock and the initial data in a shock tube. The gas flow is described by the isentropic Euler equations (i.e., the $p$-system), while the trajectory of the leading shock is prescribed as a given Lipschitz curve. Under an Oleĭnik-type entropy condition on the leading shock, we develop a modified wavefront tracking scheme to construct the flow field behind the shock. This construction enables us to determine the corresponding piston speed and the associated flow field.

30 pages, 17 figures