Abstract
After showing that the existence of a cutoff in the two-body interaction follows from consistency in the frame of assumptions upon which the Boltzmann equation is based, the collision operators for such cutoff potentials are studied in detail. It is proved that the essential properties required to build up a rigorous mathematical theory of the linearized Boltzmann equation are possessed by the collision with cutoff potentials. In particular, results of basic importance for existence, uniqueness, and approach to equilibrium are proved.

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