Initial Distributions of Vibrational and Rotational Populations Predicted by Statistical Model for Two Diatomic Species Split from Four-Atomic Complex

Abstract

Initial and nonthermal population distributions among the rotational and vibrational levels of the two diatomic species split from a four-atomic collision intermediate have been studied on the basis of the statistical model which ensures that the angular momentum of the whole system is conserved throughout the course of the splitting. A number of curves have been calculated with the aid of an electronic computer, for the initial rotational population distribution (i. r. p. d.) and the initial vibrational population distribution (i. v. p. d.). The i. r. p. d. computed varies considerably, according as the moments of inertia of the diatomic fragments are equal to or different from each other, and the excess energy E possessed by the intermediate is large or small compared with the vibrational quanta of the fragments. On the contrary, the i. v. p. d. computed remains unchanged in most cases, when the vibrational energy is expressed in the unit of E . Some of the population distributions predicted by the stat...