Dynamics of nitrogen dissociation from direct molecular simulation

Abstract

Nitrogen dissociation is studied using direct molecular simulation with a new potential-energy surface. Both ${N}_{2}$ - ${N}_{2}$ and $N$ - ${N}_{2}$ processes are simulated as they concurrently take place in an evolving nonequilibrium gas system. The coupling between vibrational excitation and dissociation is quantified leading to several new insights.