An extended moment method in radiative transfer: The matrices of mean absorption and scattering coefficients (Q1290555)

The radiative transfer equation is replaced by moment equations for the moments \(A_r^{A_1A_2\dots A_N}=\int (p^0_{RL})^{r+1-N} p^{A_1}p^{A_2}\dots p^{A_N} f dP\), \(r=0\), \(1,\dots,R\). Here \(p^A\) is the photon 4-momentum, \(cp^0_{RL}\) is the photon energy in the rest Lorentz frame, and \(f\) is the photon phase density. From these follow moment equations for the projected symmetric trace free moments. The required closure of the equations is achieved by use of a series expansion of the phase density which is motivated by the entropy maximum principle. This procedure provides a coupling of the moment equations by means of matrices of mean absorption and scattering coefficients. It is shown that the extension from \(r=1\) to \(r=0\), \(1,\dots,R\) gives reasonable results. In the limit of local radiative equilibrium (LRE), we recover the well-known Rosseland mean of the absorption coefficient. For a simple non-LRE experiment, we calculate the homogeneous compression and relaxation of radiation, the radiative transfer equation, and the moment equations. The comparison of the results in the case of pure bremsstrahlung (free-free) absorption shows an excellent agreement for \(R\geq 6\). \(\copyright\) Academic Press.