Energy transfer models in nitrogen plasmas: Analysis of N{sub 2}(X{sup 1}Σ{sup +}{sub g})–N({sup 4}S{sub u})–e{sup −} interaction
- Aerothermodynamics Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 230-3, Moffett Field, California 94035 (United States)
- Istituto di Metodologie Inorganiche e dei Plasmi, CNR, 70126 Bari (Italy)
The relaxation of N{sub 2}(X{sup 1}Σ{sup +}{sub g}) molecules in a background gas composed of N({sup 4}S{sub u}) atoms and free electrons is studied by using an ideal isochoric and isothermic chemical reactor. A rovibrational state-to-state model is developed to study energy transfer process induced by free electron and atomic collisions. The required cross sections and the corresponding rate coefficients are taken from two well-known kinetic databases: NASA Ames kinetic mechanism for the description of the N{sub 2}(X{sup 1}Σ{sup +}{sub g})–N({sup 4}S{sub u}) processes and the Phys4Entry database for the electron driven processes, N{sub 2}(X{sup 1}Σ{sup +}{sub g})–e{sup −}. The evolution of the population densities of each individual rovibrational level is explicitly determined via the numerical solution of the master equation for temperatures ranging from 10000 to 30 000 K. It was found that the distribution of the rovibrational energy levels of N{sub 2}(X{sup 1}Σ{sup +}{sub g}) is strongly influenced by the electron driven collisional processes, which promote the excitation of the low lying vibrational levels. The macroscopic vibrational energy relaxation is governed by the molecule-atom collisions, when free electrons, initially cold are relaxing to the final heat-bath temperature. Thus, the main role of the free electrons is to ensure the equilibration of vibrational and free electron excitation, thus validating the existence of the local equilibrium T{sup V}–T{sup e}. However, if electrons and heavy particles are assumed to be in equilibrium at the heat bath temperature, electron driven processes dominate the vibrational relaxation. Finally, we have assessed the validity of the Landau-Teller model for the description of the inelastic energy transfer between molecules and free electrons. In the case of free-electron temperatures lower than 10 000 K, Landau-Teller relaxation model gives an accurate description of the vibrational relaxation, while at higher temperatures the error in the predictions can be significant and the model should not be used.
- OSTI ID:
- 22415348
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 141, Issue 18; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9606
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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