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6 - Photon and Particle Distribution Functions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2022

Greg Tallents
Greg Tallents
Affiliation:
University of York
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Summary

Equilibrium distribution functions are determined for fermions (e.g. electrons) and bosons (e.g. photons). The Saha–Boltzmann equation, the Maxwellian distribution, and relativistic Maxwell–Juttner distribution are derived. The relativistic equation of state for a distribution where particle velocities approach the speed of light is examined.

Keywords

Saha–Boltzmann equationblack-body radiationMaxwellianMaxwell–Juttner distributionequation of state
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Chapter
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An Introduction to Special Relativity for Radiation and Plasma Physics , pp. 162 - 203
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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