Momentum and energy exchange collision terms for interpenetrating bi-Maxwellian gases

Abstract

For application to aeronomy and space physics problems involving strongly magnetised plasma flows, the authors derived momentum and energy exchange collision terms for interpenetrating bi-Maxwellian gases. Collision terms were derived for Coulomb, Maxwell molecule, and constant collision cross-section interaction potentials. The collision terms are valid for arbitrary flow velocity differences and temperature differences between the interacting gases as well as for arbitrary temperature anisotropies. The collision terms had to be evaluated numerically and the appropriate coefficients are presented in tables. However, the collision terms were also fitted with simplified expressions, the accuracy of which depends on both the interaction potential and the temperature anisotropy. In addition, the authors derived the closed set of transport equations that are associated with the momentum and energy collision terms.