Dynamics of vibrational energy exchange in collisions of OH and OD radicals with N 2. Application to the kinetics of OH-vibrational deactivation in the upper atmosphere

Abstract

The dynamics of collisions of OH and OD radicals with the N 2 molecule is considered. Vibrational energy exchange rate constants are estimated theoretically. The vibration-to-rotation energy exchange mechanism is shown to be the main contribution for these systems. The results are compared with experimental data and the rate constants obtained from the base ground observations of night sky Meinel emission. Rate constants of vibrational-to-vibrational exchange are too low for the collisions of OH with N 2 to be important in hydroxil vibrational energy deactivation in the atmosphere.