Abstract
A theory for the statistical equilibration of the degenerate vibrational modes of a polyatomic molecule is presented. It is shown how combined radiative and bimolecular collisional development of the degenerate multimode system may be related to that of the single-mode system. Exact multimode rate equations are derived and used to demonstrate that for the ideal harmonic system only transient disturbances of quasithermal equilibrium are permitted. A model theory for the truncated harmonic system in terms of rate equations for the first and second population distribution moments is studied. A solution is presented and related to recent experimental studies of cyclobutanone.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 015 |
| Pages (from-to) | 3787-3796 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Physics B: Atomic and Molecular Physics |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 20 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1983 |