A re-examination of the theory of the thermal accommodation coefficient
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Abstract
Existing theories of the accommodation coefficient for the transfer of energy between a monatomic gas and a solid are re-examined and reconciled with each other. Particular attention is given to the regime of high temperatures and energies, which is of present interest in the study of high speed flight through rarefied gases. A study is also made of other simplified models, showing that although the older theories can now be reconciled and understood in simple qualitative physical terms, these theories share a number of defects, and there is work yet to be done.