Local Maxwellian ($\mathcal{M}(t,x,v)=\exp (a(t,x)+b(t,x)\cdot v+c(t,x)|v{|}^2),c<0$)

A Gaussian velocity profile at each position, with coefficients encoding local density, mean velocity and temperature. Its logarithm is a linear combination of collision invariants, so its collision term vanishes pointwise in position. Transport need not vanish: the coefficients must also satisfy their transport equations for a local Maxwellian to solve the full Boltzmann equation.

This spatially nonconstant local Maxwellian is constant along free characteristic curves. Its collision term vanishes by the collision invariants, so it solves the full Boltzmann equation. It is positive, rapidly decaying and integrable in phase space. Completing its velocity square gives local mean $\alpha tx/(\beta +\alpha t^2)$ and local variance proportional to $(\beta +\alpha t^2{)}^{-1}$, while its spatial profile broadens with time.