Solution of the Wang Chang–Uhlenbeck equation for molecular hydrogen

Resumo

Molecular hydrogen is modeled by numerically solving the Wang Chang–Uhlenbeck equation. The differential scattering cross sections of molecules are calculated using the quantum mechanical scattering theory of rigid rotors. The collision integral is computed by applying a fully conservative projection method. Numerical results for relaxation, heat conduction, and a one-dimensional shock wave are presented.