STATE-TO-STATE OZONE RELAXATION RATES FOR O-3-N-2 COLLISIONS

State-to-state relaxation rates have been determined for ozone in coll isions with itself and with nitrogen by two different methods. A theor etical model of collisional broadening of ozone lines, the quantum Fou rier transform theory with improved dynamics, was adapted to compute s tate-to-state inelastic contributions to the pressure-broadened halfwi dths for ozone-nitrogen collisions. These quantities were then determi ned experimentally using time-resolved infrared double resonance spect roscopy and a kinetic model for relaxation. Comparisons of kinetic mod el simulations and experimental double-resonance signals confirmed a p ropensity for first-order dipolar transitions, but also clearly demons trated the importance of higher-order interactions leading to large ch anges in J in single collisions. Simple energy and angular-momentum-sc aling laws were found to be inadequate to represent the experimental d ata.