Model for Vibrational Relaxation of Diatomic Gases behind Shock Waves

Abstract

The problem of the vibrational relaxation of a system of harmonic oscillators is examined for the case in which the oscillators are in contact with a heat bath whose total heat capacity is finite and whose temperature therefore varies during the relaxation process. An analysis is carried out for processes in which the initial distribution of vibrational energy is a Boltzmann distribution. Application is made to the vibrational relaxation of a diatomic gas behind a shock wave.