Vibrational-translational (V-T) energy transfer and dissociation cross-sect
ions of collisions of nitrogen atoms with rovibrationally excited nitrogen
molecules are calculated by a quasi-classical dynamical approach. The resul
ts, relative to the whole set of vibrational states and interpolated on rot
ation, including quasi-bound levels, are used in a kinetic scheme for study
ing the global rate of dissociation. The kinetic model, which solves a syst
em of 68 vibrational levels submitted to the action of V-T and dissociation
processes, reveals some distortions in the resulting vibrational distribut
ion function for nu > 40. The calculated global dissociation rate is in goo
d agreement with the experimental results in a wide temperature range. (C)
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