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Space-eigenvalue problems in the kinetic theory of gases
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 March 2006
Abstract
The existence of elementary, exponential solutions of the linear Boltzmann equation for gases is examined. Using the hard-sphere model of scattering, it is found that, in problems involving velocity perturbations, there are no discrete non-zero eigenvalues. Thus the relaxation to the asymptotic distribution is non-exponential and is described by the continuum eigenfunctions. For temperature perturbations, however, we find two non-zero discrete eigenvalues whose values are ±0·975 in units of the minimum scattering cross-section. Relaxation to the asymptotic distribution is therefore exponential, although still very rapid.
The conclusions stated above are based upon a truncation of the scattering kernel and a subsequent numerical solution of the resulting integral equations.
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