The linearized Boltzmann equation: a concise and accurate solution of the temperature-jump problem

Polynomial expansion procedures, along with an analytical discrete-ordinates method, are used to solve the temperature-jump problem based on a rigorous version of the linearized Boltzmann equation for rigid-sphere interactions. In particular, the temperature and density perturbations and the temperature-jump coefficient are obtained (essentially) analytically in terms of a modern version of the discrete-ordinates method. The developed algorithms are implemented for general values of the accommodation coefficient to yield numerical results that can be considered a new standard of reference.