Initiation of combustion processes in a hydrogen-oxygen mixture under the action of a low-energy strong-current electron beam

The process of combustion initiation in a hydrogen-oxygen mixture by a beam of electrons with an energy of $\approx$10 keV and a mean cross-sectional size of $\approx$10 cm is considered theoretically and experimentally. The initial pressure in the mixture is 500 Pa. The reaction was visualized by recording the time evolution of fluorescence intensity in the lines of molecular ($\lambda$ = 310 nm) and atomic hydrogen and sodium doublet ($\lambda$ = 589 nm). The calculations are performed on the basis of a semi-empirical model developed in a three-temperature ($T_0$, $T_e$, and $T_v$) approximation. The induction and burning times determined in experiments and calculations are in good agreement.