Figure 1

Figure 1: Schematic solution of a Riemann problem in special relativistic hydrodynamics. The initial state at t = 0 (top figure) consists of two constant states 1 and 5 with p1 > p5, r1 > r5, and v1 = v2 = 0 separated by a diaphragm at xD. The evolution of the flow pattern once the diaphragm is removed (middle figure) is illustrated in a spacetime diagram (bottom figure) with a shock wave (solid line) and a contact discontinuity (dashed line) moving to the right. The bundle of solid lines represents a rarefaction wave propagating to the left.