Quasi-classical dynamics and vibrational kinetics of N + N2(v) system

Vibrational-translational (V-T) energy transfer and dissociation cross-sections of collisions of nitrogen atoms with rovibrationally excited nitrogen molecules are calculated by a quasi-classical dynamical approach. The results, relative to the whole set of vibrational states and interpolated on rotation, including quasi-bound levels, are used in a kinetic scheme for studying the global rate of dissociation. The kinetic model, which solves a system of 68 vibrational levels submitted to the action of V-T and dissociation processes, reveals some distortions in the resulting vibrational distribution function for ? > 40. The calculated global dissociation rate is in good agreement with the experimental results in a wide temperature range. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.