Definition of mean free path for real gases

Abstract

Attention is drawn to the inconsistency in the conventional procedure for the definition of a mean free path in a real gas through the classical hard sphere result. It is shown that the variable cross-section hard sphere, or VHS, model can be used to define a mean free path that properly accounts for the temperature exponent of the coefficient of viscosity of the gas. In addition, the VHS model is shown to have advantages over the classical inverse power law models for numerical and analytical studies.