Rotational Energy Transfer in Diatomic Molecules

Abstract

We have calculated the rotational energy transition probability upon collision using approximate results from a previous distorted wave calculation. For heavy homonuclear diatomic molecules, i.e. molecules with molecular weight >20, the mean transition probability is approximated by ½(d₀/r₀)², where d₀ is the internuclear distance and r₀ the kinetic collision diameter. This expression is in agreement with relaxation times as calculated from shock wave data.