Stability analysis of mean-field-type nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations associated with a generalized entropy and its...

Multidimensional nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations of mean-field type are proposed within the framework of generalized thermostatistics to develop a general formulation of stability analysis of their solutions. Two types of eigenvalue equations are studied. The nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations are shown to exhibit an H theorem with a Liapunov functional that takes the form of a free energy involving generalized entropies of Tsallis. The second-order variation of the Liapunov functional is computed to conduct local stability analysis and the associated eigenvalue equation is derived for an arbitrary form of mean-field coupling potential. Assuming quasiequilibrium for the velocity distribution, the reduced eigenvalue equation with space coordinates alone is also obtained. The alternative type of eigenvalue equation based on the linearization of the nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations is presented. Taking the mean-field coupling potential to be the gravitational one, the nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation in terms of three-dimensional velocity and space coordinates together with the framework of stability analysis is shown to be applicable to a mean-field model of self-gravitating system. By solving the eigenvalue equation for the eigenfunction with 0 eigenvalue, the occurrence of stability change of the equilibrium probability density with spherical symmetry is discussed.