Kernels of the linear Boltzmann equation for spherical particles and rough hard sphere particles

Abstract

Kernels for the collision integral of the linear Boltzmann equation are presented for several cases. First, a rigorous and complete derivation of the velocity kernel for spherical particles is given, along with reductions to the smooth, rigid sphere case. This combines and extends various derivations for this kernel which have appeared previously in the literature. In addition, the analogous kernel is derived for the rough hard sphere model, for which a dependence upon both velocity and angular velocity is required. This model can account for exchange between translational and rotational degrees of freedom. Finally, an approximation to the exact rough hard sphere kernel is presented which averages over the rotational degrees of freedom in the system. This results in a kernel depending only upon velocities which retains a memory of the exchange with rotational states. This kernel tends towards the smooth hard sphere kernel in the limit when translational-rotational energy exchange is attenuated. Comparisons are made between the smooth and approximate rough hard sphere kernels, including their dependence upon velocity and their eigenvalues.