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Collision-induced dissociation of diatomic molecules

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5789467
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 were 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 Inst. of Tech., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (USA)
OSTI ID:
5789467
Report Number(s):
AD-A-066191
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
COLLISIONS
DISSOCIATION
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
ENERGY
ENERGY LEVELS
EQUILIBRIUM
EXCITED STATES
KINETICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
MOLECULE-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
MOLECULES
REACTION KINETICS
ROTATIONAL STATES
TIME DEPENDENCE
VIBRATIONAL STATES