Temperature dependent energy transfer in Ar-O3 collisions -: art. no. 234318

The energy transfer between argon atoms and ozone complexes O-3(*), excited in the region of the dissociation threshold, is calculated for fixed temperatures (100 K <= T <= 2500 K) using classical trajectories. The internal energy of ozone is resolved in terms of vibrational and rotational energies. For all temperatures, energy flows from O-3(*) to Ar. The vibrational energy transfer, relative to k(B)T, is very small below 500 K, but gradually increases towards high temperatures. The relative rotational energy transfer, on the other hand, monotonously decreases with T; around 1100 K it falls below the relative vibrational energy transfer. Thermally averaged cross sections for vibrational and rotational energy transfers are also calculated. The implications for the stabilization of ozone complexes in the energy transfer model are discussed. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.