Electron-Nitrogen Molecule Collisions in High-Temperature Nonequilibrium Air

Abstract

Ab initio calculation of vibrational excitation and de-excitation cross sections of N_2 by low-energy resonant electron impact have been carried out. The calculation includes initial target state in v = 0-12 and final target state in v = 0-17. The calculated cross sections are found to agree with available experimental data to within reported experimental error. Effect of target rotation has been investigated. Comparison of vibrational excitation cross sections at J = 0, 50, and 150 shows that the major effect of target rotation is to lower the resonance energy. Vibrational excitation and de-excitation rate coefficients are tabulated for electron temperatures of 1100-55,000 K. The present tabulation supersedes an earlier compilation by the Naval Research Laboratory that was derived from experimental data with a factor-of-two error. The tabulated rate coefficients are suited for flowfield modeling of aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicles.