Formation of Maxwellian Tails

Max Krook and Tai Tsun Wu
Phys. Rev. Lett. 36, 1107 – Published 10 May 1976
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Abstract

Using two models, we study the relaxation to a Maxwell distribution in the context of classical kinetic theory. For the first model, an exact solution of the nonlinear Boltzmann equation is derived. For the second model, an asymptotic solution exhibits the remarkable feature of a transient tail population sometimes much larger than the equilibrium Maxwell distribution. This phenomenon may be of importance for calculating rates of fast chemical reactions and for controlled thermonuclear fusion.

  • Received 9 February 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.36.1107

©1976 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Max Krook and Tai Tsun Wu

  • Division of Engineering and Applied Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

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Issue

Vol. 36, Iss. 19 — 10 May 1976

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