On the low Mach number limit for 2D Navier–Stokes–Korteweg systems

This paper addresses the low Mach number limit for two-dimensional Navier–Stokes–Korteweg systems. The primary purpose is to investigate the relevance of the capillarity tensor for the analysis. For the sake of a concise exposition, our considerations focus on the case of the quantum Navier-Stokes (QNS) equations. An outline for a subsequent generalization to general viscosity and capillarity tensors is provided. Our main result proves the convergence of finite energy weak solutions of QNS to the unique Leray-Hopf weak solutions of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, for general initial data without additional smallness or regularity assumptions. We rely on the compactness properties stemming from energy and BD-entropy estimates. Strong convergence of acoustic waves is proven by means of refined Strichartz estimates that take into account the alteration of the dispersion relation due to the capillarity tensor. For both steps, the presence of a suitable capillarity tensor is pivotal.