Low Knudsen number photophoresis

Abstract An analytical expression describing the photophoretic force on a spherical aerosol particle in the low Knudsen number regime is developed in terms of relevant dimensionless parameters. The effect of thermal creep as well as contributing low Knudsen number effects of gas slippage and temperature jump at the gas-particle interface are included in the analysis. The resulting force expression is compared with previous laboratory measurements. Its value is shown to be comparable to the gravitational force on small Knudsen number atmospheric aerosols.