Abstract
The master equation for collisional deactivation of vibrationally highly excited molecular states has been solved numerically for representative collision models. The results can conveniently be represented by generalized analytical solutions for the diffusion limit of the master equation. The time evolution of the moments 〈E(t)〉 and 〈[E−〈E(t)〉]2〉 is related to the energy transfer averages 〈ΔE〉 and 〈ΔE2〉.