We are concerned with the global existence and blowup of the classical solutions to the Cauchy problem of one-dimensional isentropic relativistic Euler equations (Chaplygin gas, pressureless perfect fluid and stiff matter) with linearly degenerate characteristics. We at first derive the exact representation formula for all the fluids by the property of linearly degenerate. Then for the Chaplygin gas and the pressureless perfect fluid, we give a classification of the initial data that leads to the global existence and the blowup of the classical solution, respectively. We construct, especially, a class of initial data that contributes to the formation of “cusp-type” singularity and study the evolution of the solution after blowup by introducing a weak solution called delta shock wave. At last, for the stiff matter, we show that this system is indeed a linear system and prove the global existence of the classical solution to this fluid.
