Double step-ladder model of activation in the processes of high-temperature dissociation of polyatomic molecules

A unified mechanism of the interaction of vibrational relaxation and dissoc iation of polyatomic molecules working in a wide temperature range (from 20 00 to 10 000 K) is proposed, which is described by a double step-ladder mod el. Relaxation due to collisions with the transfer of small and large porti ons of energy is taken into account. The transfer efficiency of the portion s of thermal energy in the high-temperature decomposition upon the collisio ns of CO2 molecules with atomic and molecular partners is determined. The r eaction rate constant of high-temperature dissociation of carbon dioxide is calculated. The data presented in the article suggest a new method for elu cidating the mechanism of energy exchange in the absence of vibrational and translational equilibrium and at ultrahigh temperatures when the dissociat ion takes place during the time of several collisions.