Physics-informed token transformer methodology for nonlinear balance laws. I. Schwarzschild--Burgers fluid flows

Abstract

We introduce a Physics-Informed Token Transformer (PITT) methodology for nonlinear hyperbolic balance laws in one space dimension, using piecewise steady-state profiles for the representation of approximate weak solutions. The method combines symbolic equation tokenization, a Fourier neural operator encoder, an explicit Rankine--Hugoniot law for shock motion, and a learned correction term. For clarity, we present it here for the relativistic Schwarzschild--Burgers equation, a scalar model for spherically symmetric fluid flows on a Schwarzschild background. For this model the steady-state invariant and the generalized Riemann solutions are explicit, and they can therefore be built into the neural evolution. In particular, the leading discontinuities are advanced by the analytical jump condition, while the learned part reconstructs smooth regions, rarefaction fans, geometric dependence, and finite-resolution effects. The method is designed to locate wave fronts accurately and to preserve the relevant steady states. We test our PITT method on moving shocks, stationary shocks, rarefaction waves, and compare it with a standard high-order finite-volume approximation. We also analyze the standard Burgers limit (when the Schwarzschild mass tends to zero). The Rankine--Hugoniot prior plays the dominant role in these tests, while equation tokenization gives a systematic additional gain. The method is relevant for problems involving geometric effects and/or complex shock-wave dynamics, and is used here to study the long-time dynamics of perturbations of steady-state solutions. In particular, we exhibit an asymptotic law of propagation for the shock location of perturbed steady-state flows.