A complete set of state-to-state transition cross sections for O_2-O is generated by the quasi-classical trajectory method on an accurate three-body potential energy surface. Transition rates obtained by integrating the cross section data are employed in the system of master equations to study trans-rotational and trans-vibrational energy exchanges in a wide range of heat bath conditions. The energy-equivalent definition of temperature is adopted to obtain characteristic relaxation times. It is shown that the vibrational relaxation becomes less efficient at high temperatures, in contrast with the conventional equation for relaxation time, proposed by Millikan and White. Rotational and vibrational relaxation times are the same order of magnitude in the range of temperatures observed in hypersonic flows.
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