Dispersion relation for sound in rarefied polyatomic gases based on extended thermodynamics

We study the dispersion relation for sound in rarefied polyatomic gases (hydrogen, deuterium and hydrogen deuteride gases) basing on the recently developed theory of extended thermodynamics (ET) of dense gases. We compare the relation with those obtained in experiments and by the classical Navier–Stokes Fourier (NSF) theory. The applicable frequency range of the ET theory is proved to be much wider than that of the NSF theory. We evaluate the values of the bulk viscosity and the relaxation times involved in nonequilibrium processes. The relaxation time related to the dynamic pressure has a possibility to become much larger than the other relaxation times related to the shear stress and the heat flux.