ON THE THEORY OF THERMAL POLARIZATION OF BODIES IN A RAREFIED-GAS FLOW

Symmetry relations for the kinetic coefficients in the phenomenologica l equations of particle motion in non-uniform media are proven within the framework of the kinetic theory of gases. These coefficients chara cterize the phenomena of thermophoresis and thermal polarization. By m eans of hydrodynamics with slip boundary conditions the magnitude of t he thermal polarization effect is calculated. A comparison of the theo retical calculations with recent experimental investigations of therma l polarization is carried out.