The results of the OH((2)Sigma(+)) --> OH((2)Pi) luminescence registration at 1000 less than or equal to T less than or equal to 2500 K and 2.0 greater than or equal to p greater than or equal to 0.3 atm during the ignition-combustion process behind incident shock waves in (2H(2) + O-2) + Ar mixtures were subjected to theoretical analysis. Experiments are interpreted in terms of kinetic problem with account of the electronically excited particles OH((2)Sigma(-)), O(D-1), and O-2((1)Delta), and the vibrational nonequilibrium of initial H-2 and O-2 molecules. Slow vibrational relaxation of O-2 molecules exerts essential influence on the chemical transformation process through the chain branching reaction H + O-2 --> HO + O. The maximum luminescence moments calculated are in good agreement with observed ones. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.