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arXiv · 2008.10212

New probability distributions in astrophysics: III. The truncated Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution

Lorenzo Zaninetti
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Abstract

The Maxwell-Boltzmann (MB) distribution for velocities in ideal gases is usually defined between zero and infinity. A double truncated MB distribution is here introduced and the probability density function, the distribution function, the average value, the rth moment about the origin, the root-mean-square speed and the variance are evaluated. Two applications are presented: (i) a numerical relationship between root-mean-square speed and temperature, and (ii) a modification of the formula for the Jeans escape flux of molecules from an atmosphere.

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Lorenzo Zaninetti. 2020-08-24. New probability distributions in astrophysics: III. The truncated Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. https://doi.org/10.4236/ijaa.2020.103010

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