Vibrational relaxation of small molecules in the liquid phase: Liquid nitrogen doped with O2, CO, and CH4

The vibrational relaxation time of liquid nitrogen doped with CH4, CO, and O2 at 77 °K has been measured by pulsed laser and spectroscopic techniques. Rate constants for V→V energy transfer from N2 to the dopants and V→T relaxation times have been obtained. These rates are consistent with a simple model which essentially treats the liquid as a high density gas where isolated binary collisions cause vibrational relaxation.