Non-Maxwellian H and F velocity distributions in an H2–F2 reaction

Abstract

Time‐dependent and quasi‐steady‐state solutions for the velocity distribution functions of H and F atoms in a burning, homogeneous, and isotropic H₂–F₂ gas mixture show an increase in the rates of the H+F₂ and F+H₂ chemical reactions that approaches a factor of two larger than the thermalized rates. The mixture is ignited by dissociating a small fraction of the F₂ molecules. Approximations to the time‐dependent Boltzmann equation for the system reduce it to a form which is linear in the H and F distribution functions. This limits the solutions to early time behavior and small initial F‐atom concentrations, but it allows a general picture of the burn rates to be developed from a moderate number of calculations.