Kinetic theory of thermal transpiration and the mechanocaloric effect: Planar flow of a rigid sphere gas with arbitrary accommodation at the surface

The planar flow of a rarefied gas subject to pressure and temperature gradients is a problem of fundamental interest in vacuum science and technology. This problem is solved based on the linearized Boltzmann equation with the assumption of a rigid sphere molecular interaction and Maxwell’s gas–surface interaction operator. Comprehensive numerical results for the macroscopic flow profiles, and the integrated flow rates for arbitrary Knudsen numbers are obtained. The results are basic to study of planar flows of rarefied gases.