Simulation of nitrogen dissociation in a strong shock wave

We study the interplay of vibrational kinetics, dissociation and translational relaxation in a strong shock wave in Nitrogen by Direct Simulation Monte Carlo simulation. The input data for elementary processes are all in the form of cross sections, mostly determined by molecular physics methods. In particular, we use for the first time very recent QCT data for multiquantum VT energy excharge and dissociation in N+N collisions, based on molecular dynamics. Both vibrational and translational non equilibrium distributions are observed in simulation. The effect of atomic diffusion is also shown. © 2001 by S.Longo.