Mechanism of the initiation of combustion in CH4(C2H2)/Air/O3 mixtures by laser excitation of the O3 molecules

The possibility of enhancing the ignition and combustion of the CH4/air/O3 and C2H2/air/O3 mixtures by exciting the asymmetric vibrations of the O3 molecule with CO2 laser radiation is considered. Even the admixture of small amounts of O3 (2.5–5.0 vol %) into the hydrocarbon/air mixtures intensifies ignition and shortens the induction period. The excitation of the O3 molecules with 9.7-μm radiation speeds up the chain process and further reduces the induction period and the ignition temperature. The induction period can be shortened by a factor of 10–100 even at low radiation energies absorbed by the gas (ES = 10−3-10−2 J/cm3).