Flow dynamics of supersonic molecular beams and the measurement of rotational–translational coupling parameters for N2 and H2

Abstract

Collision frequency, flow velocity, particle density, mean-free path, axial and radial temperatures in supersonic atomic and homonuclear diatomic beams have been calculated for various species within the framework of the thermal conduction model using realistic interaction potentials and collision cross-sections obtained from scattering theory. Comparison between numerical results and measured velocity distributions are made to estimate values of rotational–translational coupling parameters for N₂ and H₂.