Vibrational and Rotational Excitation and Relaxation of Nitrogen from Accurate Theoretical Calculations

摘要

Vibrational and rotational energy transfer rate coefficients are computed for high-temperature N2 under conditions expected for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere at 10-12 km/s. The calculations utilized classical mechanics to simulate individual collisions of N2 with N atoms and a quantum chemical potential energy surface to describe the interatomic forces between the nitrogen atoms. The results demonstrate the importance of exchange reactions, which result in multiquantum jumps in vibration and rotation level.