Interpretation of vibrational relaxation channels on the basis of gas-dynamic measurements

A method is proposed for solving a system of relaxation equations for a flow of a vibrationally nonequilibrium gas whose molecules are modeled by anharmonic oscillators. On the basis of an analysis of the probability ratios for various types of collisions producing changes in the vibrational energy of molecules, small parameters are incorporated into the equations for the populations of energy levels. Systems of equations are obtained for macroparameters characterizing flow of a vibrationally nonequilibrium gas with allowance for the anharmonicity of the vibrational motion of the molecules, and the applicability regions are defined.