Thermodynamics of ideal monatomic gases with a semi-empirical temperature scale

The present paper concerns heat propagation with finite thermal wave speeds in ideal monatomic gases. A new temperature scale,related to the absolute one by a suitable kinetic equation,is introduced. Such a temperature plays the role of potential for an intrnal state variable a,accounting for thermal inertia. The system of evolution equations for mass density,gas velocity and temperature is derived. It results to be quasi-linear,of the hyperboic type. Finally,shock wave propagation is considered.