Discrete-to-continuum limits of interacting particle systems in one dimension with collisions

Abstract: We study a class of interacting particle systems in which $n$ signed particles move on the real line. At close range particles with the same sign repel and particles with opposite sign attract each other. The repulsion and attraction are described by the same singular interaction force $f$. Particles of opposite sign may collide in finite time. Upon collision, pairs of colliding particles are removed from the system. In a paper by Peletier, Po\v{z}\'ar and the author, one particular particle system of this type was studied; that in which $f(x) = \frac1x$ is the Coulomb force. Global well-posedness of this particle system was shown and a discrete-to-continuum limit (i.e. $n \to \infty$) to a nonlocal PDE for the signed particle density was established. Both results rely on innovative use of techniques in ODE theory and viscosity solutions. In the present paper we extend these results to a large class of particle systems in order to cover many new applications. Motivated by these applications, we consider the presence of an external force $g$, consider interaction forces $f$ with a large range of singularities and allow $f$ to scale with $n$. To handle this class of $f$ we develop several new proof techniques in addition to those used for the Coulomb force.