Collision induced dissociation of diatomic molecules. Final report, January 1976-June 1978. [Air Force Clero Propulsion Lab. , Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio]

Technical Report · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:5773045

Bailey, W F

A discrete collisional theory of dissociation under equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions using a quantum kinetic approach to molecular energy transfer was investigated. The kinetic equations for molecular dissociation in a pure diatomic gas and diatomic gases in the presence of an inert diluent were formulated and solved. The incubation time was calculated and exhibited good agreement with experimental measurements. An analytic steady-state form for the vibrational population and dissociation rate was developed which agreed with the time-dependent calculations. It was determined that rotational states play a significant role in the dissociation process and that the standard ladder model is inadequate. When rotational effects are properly included in the analysis, good agreement with experimental data is obtained. The kinetics developed to address thermal dissociation under equilibrium conditions was extended to treat the highly nonequilibrium conditions achieved through intense optical pumping or electron impact excitation. The nonequilibrium treatment included a detailed investigation of electron impact dissociation. A parametric study of heavy particle and electron impact dissociation rates revealed that under conditions typically encountered in electric discharges, electron impact dissociation dominates the heavy particle rate.

• Research Organization: Air Force Aero-Propulsion Lab., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5773045
• Report Number(s): AD-A-063876
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
640420 -- Fluid Physics-- Properties & Structure of Fluids-- (-1987)
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANHARMONIC OSCILLATORS
BROMINE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLISIONS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DISSOCIATION
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON SPECTRA
ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXCITED STATES
FLUIDS
HALOGENS
HYDROGEN
IODINE
KINETICS
MECHANICS
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
MOLECULE-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PUMPING
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
REACTION KINETICS
ROTATIONAL STATES
SPECTRA
VIBRATIONAL STATES