Maximum entropy Eddington factors and flux limited diffusion theory

The relationship between the maximum entropy Eddington factor and flux limited diffusion theory is established. Although these two approaches to radiative transfer are philosophically very different (one treats an ensemble, while the other treats a specific system), the resulting variable Eddington factors are in semiquantitative agreement. It is shown that a simple Pade approximant to the maximum entropy angular distribution yields precisely the same angular distribution extant in a recently reported flux limited diffusion theory.