Enhanced radiometric forces

TL;DR

This paper reviews Crookes' Radiometer, compares theories of radiometric forces, and proposes a method to enhance these forces, enabling operation at higher pressures and expanding its practical applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to amplify radiometric forces and operate the radiometer at higher pressures, overcoming previous size and vacuum limitations.

Findings

Comparison of different radiometric force theories

Proposed method enhances radiometric effect at higher pressures

Potential for practical applications beyond educational use

Abstract

Crookes' Radiometer exploits thermal forces arising from temperature gradients in rarefied gases. This instrument has remained confined to educational physics because of the very small size of the radiometric effect and because of the necessity of an evacuated environment for operation. In this article the physics of this instrument is reviewed, different theories are compared and some general principles are derived. A method for enhancing the radiometric effect and for generating radiometric forces at higher pressures is proposed.