AEM Research Paper Selected for Editor's Choice

The paper titled "Characteristic Vibrational and Rotational Relaxation Times for Air Species from First-Principles Calculations," by Research Associate Erik Torres and AEM Professor Tom Schwartzentruber, was recently selected as an Editor’s Choice by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

Published in August 2024, the paper focuses on how common molecules in the atmosphere behave in high-energy situations, such as spacecraft re-entry. The calculations used a novel simulation method that directly simulates molecular interactions using quantum-chemistry theory and involved close collaboration with researchers in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota.

To read the full paper, visit: https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/1.T7042.