Deactivation dynamics of vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules by nitrogen atoms. Effects on non-equilibrium vibrational distribution and dissociation rates of nitrogen under electrical discharges

The non-equilibrium vibrational distribution and the dissociation kinetics of N₂ in electrical discharges has been calculated by solving an appropriate vibrational master equation. Attention has been devoted to the role of nitrogen atoms in deactivation the vibrational distribution. To this end, a complete set of V—T (vibration—translation) deactivation rates of vibrationally excited molecules by nitrogen atoms has been calculated using a quasiclassical trajectory technique. The results show that nitrogen atoms formed by electron impact are able to deactive the high vibrational levels (v > 25) of N₂ strongly affecting the heavy particle dissociation kinetics of N₂.