title: Cumulant solution of the elastic boltzmann transport equation in an infinite uniform medium
abstract: We consider an analytical solution of the time-dependent elastic Boltzmann transport equation in an infinite uniform isotropic medium with an arbitrary phase function. We obtain (1) the exact distribution in angle, (2) the exact first and second spatial cumulants at any angle, and (3) an approximate combined distribution in position and angle and a spatial distribution whose central position and half-width of spread are always exact. The resulting Gaussian distribution has a center that advances in time, and an ellipsoidal contour that grows and changes shape providing a clear picture of the time evolution of the particle migration from near ballistic, through snakelike and into the final diffusive regime.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Lasers, New York State Center of Advanced Technology for Ultrafast Photonic Materials and Applications, Department of Physics, The City College and Graduate Center of City University of New York, New Yor.
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lax
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Alfano