Calculation of the maximun number of vibrational and rotational energy states for diatomic molecules

Abstract

A procedure for finding the maximum number of energy states for a diatomic molecule is presented. We consider the background energy of a gaseous thermodynamic system containing atoms, diatomic molecules and their ions, together with the spacing of adjacent energy states in the molecules. Using similitude and dimensional analysis techniques and defining linear energy densities of the molecular and thermodynamic systems we obtain expressions for the maximum levels that a molecule can attain. These results are relevant for the correct evaluation of the partition function.