Non-Equilibrium Gas Dynamics and Reaction Kinetics

This course examines chemical reaction kinetics and energy transfer processes in high-temperature gases. Course topics include molecular collision theory; Boltzmann equation; transition state theory (derived from both thermodynamics and statistical mechanics); unimolecular dissociation and recombination reactions and their pressure dependence (i.e., Lindemann theory, RRK(M) theory, Master Equation); reaction and explosion mechanisms relevant to propulsion systems; experimental methods and diagnostics used to study gas-phase chemical kinetics; an intro to kinetic modeling tools and solvers; photochemistry; and vibrational relaxation processes.