The ultrarelativistic shock layer around the triangle prism is numerically analyzed using the relativistic Boltzmann equation to investigate the dissipation process under two types of ultrarelativistic limits: namely, the Lorentz contraction limit, in which the uniform flow velocity approximates to the speed of light, and the thermally relativistic limit, in which the temperature of the uniform flow approximates to infinity. The relativistic Boltzmann equation is numerically solved using the direct simulation Monte Carlo method. We discuss dissipation process in the flow field by focusing on profiles of the dynamic pressure and heat flux along the stagnation streamline under the Lorentz contraction limit or the thermally relativistic limit. Our numerical results confirm that profiles of the dynamic pressure and heat flux along the stagnation streamline strongly depend on the Lorentz contraction and thermally relativistic effects under their ultrarelativistic limits, as predicted by Chapman-Enskog expansion on the basis of the generic Knudsen number.

• Received 12 March 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.86.083522