TRANSFORMATION OF THE POPULATION-DISTRIBUTION FOR HIGHLY EXCITED-STATES OF POLYATOMIC-MOLECULES IN HIGH-TEMPERATURE REACTIONS OF DISSOCIATION AND RECOMBINATION

The spectroscopic data on the dissociation of CO2 molecules in shock w aves at T = 2500-4000 K and P = 10-30 atm are analyzed. The population distribution according to energy levels is obtained by numerical solu tion of the microkinetic equations in the step-ladder approximation. T he dissociation rate constant and time evolution of the absorption-emi ssion characteristics of highly excited CO2 molecules are determined. The mechanism of population and decay of the states above the dissocia tion barrier is examined.