Using spherical harmonics to solve the Boltzmann equation: an operator-based approach

Abstract

ABSTRACT The transport of charged particles or photons in a scattering medium can be modelled with a Boltzmann equation. The mathematical treatment for scattering in such scenarios is often simplified if evaluated in a frame where the scattering centres are, on average, at rest. It is common therefore to use a mixed coordinate system, wherein space and time are measured in a fixed inertial frame, while momenta are measured in a ‘co-moving’ frame. To facilitate analytical and numerical solutions, the momentum dependence of the phase-space density may be expanded as a series of spherical harmonics, typically truncated at low order. A method for deriving the system of equations for the expansion coefficients of the spherical harmonics to arbitrary order is presented in the limit of isotropic, small-angle scattering. The method of derivation takes advantage of operators acting on the space of spherical harmonics. The matrix representations of these operators are employed to compute the system of equations. The computation of matrix representations is detailed and subsequently simplified with the aid of rotations of the coordinate system. The eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the matrix representations are investigated to prepare the application of standard numerical techniques, e.g. the finite volume method or the discontinuous Galerkin method, to solve the system.