Quantum Drag Forces on a Sphere Moving Through a Rarefied Gas

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum mechanical effects on drag forces experienced by a sphere in a rarefied gas, highlighting the importance of diffraction scattering theory over classical models and comparing theoretical predictions with experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum scattering model for drag force calculation that accounts for the sticking fraction, improving upon classical inelastic scattering theories.

Findings

Quantum scattering theory better matches experimental data.

Classical inelastic scattering is inadequate for realistic sticking fractions.

Quantum effects significantly influence drag forces in ultra-dilute gases.

Abstract

As an application of quantum fluid mechanics, we consider the drag force exerted on a sphere by an ultra-dilute gas. Quantum mechanical diffraction scattering theory enters in that regime wherein the mean free path of a molecule in the gas is large compared with the sphere radius. The drag force is computed in a model specified by the ``sticking fraction'' of events in which a gaseous molecule is adsorbed by the spherical surface. Classical inelastic scattering theory is shown to be inadequate for physically reasonable sticking fraction values. The quantum mechanical scattering drag force is exhibited theoretically and compared with experimental data.