Boltzmann Equation and Inverse Collisions

Abstract

The equations of change for the statistical distribution functions involved in the kinetic theory are examined for molecular species which interact with arbitrary central forces. It is shown that the notion of inverse encounters follows in a straightforward fashion from the fundamental Liouville equation. The analysis also establishes that it is not the usual singlet distribution function, but a particular modification thereof, which should satisfy an equation of the Boltzmann variety. Three body collision processes are briefly examined and the extension of the method to the domain of chemical kinetics discussed.