The heat flux from a relativistic kinetic equation with a simplified collision kernel

Abstract

We show how using a special relativistic kinetic equation with a BGK- like collision operator the ensuing expression for the heat flux can be casted in the form required by Classical Irreversible Thermodynamics. Indeed, it is linearly related to the temperature and number density gradients and not to the acceleration as the so-called "first order in the gradients theories" contend. Here we calculate explicitly the ensuing transport coefficients and compare them with the results obtained by other authors.