The decomposition of CO2 in glow discharge

The energy of the first vibrational level of the N2 molecule is quite close to the energy of the first level of the asymmetric mode of CO2. Hence, fast resonance transfer of vibrational energy from N2 molecules to CO2, directly populating the necessary level, becomes feasible. As a result of CO2-CO2 collision, the population increase of higher vibrational levels of asymmetric mode of CO2 takes place up to the decomposition of molecules.