Abstract
Abstract The energy relaxation of fast nitrogen atoms due to elastic and inelastic collisions with molecules in the atmosphere is studied. A new formula for the energy relaxation kernel in the Boltzmann kinetic equation, which applies equally to elastic and inelastic collisions, is derived. Angular and energy dependent differential cross sections are used in calculations of the energy transfer rate. The energy relaxation kernel is evaluated for inelastic N + N2 collisions with numerically determined differential cross sections for rotational and vibrational excitation of the N2 molecules. The mean rate of energy loss, the average energy transfer per collision and mean thermalization times are calculated as functions of the kinetic energy of the nitrogen atoms. The contributions of elastic and inelastic scattering to the thermalization of N atoms in the terrestrial atmosphere are analyzed. The energy distribution functions of the fast nitrogen atoms are evaluated for thermospheric conditions. They depart significantly from a Maxwellian distribution at high energies.
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