Critical thresholds in hyperbolic relaxation systems

Critical threshold phenomena in one-dimensional 2×2 quasi-linear hyperbolic relaxation systems are investigated. Assuming both the subcharacteristic condition and genuine nonlinearity of the flux, we prove global in time regularity and finite-time singularity formation of solutions simultaneously by showing the critical threshold phenomena associated with the underlying relaxation systems. Our results apply to the well-known isentropic Euler system with damping. Within the same framework it is also shown that the solution of the semi-linear relaxation system remains smooth for all time, provided the subcharacteristic condition is satisfied.