Updated Transfer Coefficients for Magnetized Plasmas

Accurate radiative transfer coefficients (emissivities, absorptivities, and rotativities) are needed for modeling radiation from relativistically hot, magnetized plasmas such as those found in Event Horizon Telescope sources. Here we review, update, and correct earlier work on radiative transfer coefficients. We also describe an improved method for numerically evaluating rotativities and provide convenient fitting formulae for the relativistic kappa distribution of electron energies.

Automated summary

Accurate radiative transfer coefficients are crucial for modeling radiation from relativistically hot, magnetized plasmas. This study reviews, updates, and corrects earlier work on radiative transfer coefficients, and introduces an improved method for evaluating rotativities along with fitting formulae for the relativistic kappa distribution of electron energies.