Time constant for gas to reach equipartion equilibrium  by
Calvadosser Tags: constant, equilibrium, equipartion, reach,
time Calvadosser is offline Feb18-12, 06:12 PM P: 36 My
understanding is that a gas, such as CO2 for example, that
interacts with electromagnetic radiation, can only absorb energy
at specific frequencies, corresponding to the resonant
frequencies of its molecule - equivalently the quantized energy
associated with each molecular vibrational/rotational mode.  I
also understand that such as gas reaches equilibrium, with equal
energy in each possible mode (including kinetic energy) of its
molecules [law of equipartition].  My question: If a volume of
the gas is subjected to an impulse of electromagnetic energy at
just one of the frequencies, F1 say, at which it absorbs
radiation, then presumably immediately after it will be in a
non-equilibrium state, with an excess of molecules energized at
that F1.  MY QUESTION: I'd like to understand the dynamics of
the gas once again reaching equipartition e