Transfer of Vibrational Energy from Asymmetric Stretch of CO2 to ν3 of N2 O

Abstract

The rate constant for the transfer of a ${\nu }_3$ quantum from C${\mathrm{O}}_2$ to ${\mathrm{N}}_2$O is calculated using a second-order formulation of the theory of energy transfer due to long-range forces. This formulation is valid if ${\omega }_{\mathrm{vi}}\tau >1\mathrm{}$, where ${\omega }_{\mathrm{vi}}$ is the frequency (rad ${\sec }^{-1\mathrm{}}$) for transition from initial to virtual state, and $\tau$ is the time duration of the collision. The theory is estimated to be accurate to within a factor of 2 and agrees with the room-temperature experimental results. The formulation is also generalized to include energy transfer due to Debye induction interactions.