Abstract
The relation between time-dependent population of vibrational state and collision-induced state-to-state rate coefficients is discussed within the Landau–Teller kinetic equations for the relaxation of harmonic oscillators in a heat bath. In particular, the increase of the populations in the first and the second vibrational state of an initially cold oscillator shows a considerable variety of its relation to a single Landau–Teller state-to-state rate coefficient. It is suggested that this variety should be kept in mind when experimental studies of the relaxation of specific level are analyzed.
Acknowledgement
This work acknowledges many stimulating discussions with Professor Juergen Troe and his continuing interest in our work.
©2015 Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston