Non equilibrium dissociation and ionization of N2 in decaying plasmas

The dissociation and ionization rates of N2 in decaying plasmas have been calculated by solving a system of vibrational master equations including V-V (vibration-vibration) and V-T (vibration-translation) energy exchanges. Two initial vibrational distributions have been considered : one characterized by a 0-1 vibrational temperature θ1 of 8 500 K, the other by θ1 = 4 400 K. The results show that appreciable dissociation and ionization rates can be obtained in times of the order of several ms.