Molecular Physics of Elementary Processes Relevant to Hypersonics:Atom-Molecule, Molecule-Molecule and Atoms-Surface Processes

摘要

In the present chapter some prototype gas and gas-surface processes occurring within the hypersonic flow layersurrounding spacecrafts at planetary entry are discussed. The discussion is based on microscopic dynamical calculationsof the detailed cross sections and rate coefficients performed using classical mechanics treatments for atoms, moleculesand surfaces. Such treatment allows the evaluation of the efficiency of thermal processes (both at equilibrium and nonequilibrium distributions) based on state-to-state and state specific calculations properly averaged over the population ofthe initial states. The dependence of the efficiency of the considered processes on the initial partitioning of energy amongthe various degrees of freedom is discussed.