Energy transfer and dissociation in H2Â +Â H2: The role of internal energy of the collider

Collisions of diatomic molecules such as H2 + H2 involve two entities with internal degrees of freedom. This classical study examines the role of internal energy in a diatomic collider that has caused rotational excitation, vibrational relaxation, or collision induced dissociation of the diatomic target H2 initially in state (0,0) or (1,0). It is found that internal energy in the collider can have the effect of dampening rotational excitation, but is available to promote vibrational relaxation and dissociation of the diatomic target. There is evidence that vibrational degree of freedom of the collider plays a larger role than does the rotational degree of freedom.