 Riemann problem

A Riemann problem for a one-dimensional system of conservation laws ${\partial }_{t}U+{\partial }_{x}f(U)=0$ has two constant initial states, $U_L$ for $x<0$ and $U_R$ for $x>0$. The data and equation are invariant under $(x,t)\mapsto (\lambda x,\lambda t)$. When the physically admissible entropy solution is unique, this invariance makes it a self-similar solution depending on $x/t$. For ideal-gas compressible flow, the characteristic speeds are $u-c,u,u+c$. The two acoustic families carry shock waves or rarefaction waves, while the middle family carries a contact discontinuity. Sufficiently strong separating velocities can instead create a vacuum region.