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We have calculated the rotational energy transition probability upon collision using approximate results from a previous distorted wave calculation. For heavy homonuclear diatomic molecules, i.e. molecules with molecular weight >20, the mean transition probability is approximated by ½(d0/r0)2, where d0 is the internuclear distance and r0 the kinetic collision diameter. This expression is in agreement with relaxation times as calculated from shock wave data.
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R. Brout (1954) studied this question.
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