Abstract
The rate of vibrational deactivation by collision of polyatomic molecules is discussed. Previous calculations for CO2 by the author are corrected. A systematic method to find the steric factor in complex collisions is proposed, and the best procedure for evaluation of such collisions is discussed. Mixture of vibrational wavefunctions may increase the rate appreciably, particularly in the presence of Fermi resonance. The agreement with experiment is good for the deactivation of the transversal vibration and for the effect of CO2 admixture on O2 deactivation, but the experimental rate of deactivation of the asymmetric longitudinal CO2 vibration is much greater (60 to 90 times) then the calculated one.