Discrete transfer method applied to radiative transfer in a variable refractive index semitransparent medium

Application of the discrete transfer method (DTM) has been extended to the analysis of radiative heat transfer in a variable refractive index participating medium. To validate the DTM formulation, radiative heat transfer in an absorbing, emitting and isotropically scattering planar medium was considered. The participating medium was assumed to be in radiative equilibrium. For both constant and variable refractive indices of the medium, the DTM results were compared with those available in the literature. The DTM was found to provide accurate results.