Transient control of a combustion Reaction

A system for applying energy to a combustion reaction, comprising:

• one or more first charge elements configured to apply energy to a combustion reaction;
• a high voltage power supply including one or more outputs operatively coupled to the one or more first charge elements, the high voltage power supply configured to apply one or more control signals to the one or more first charge elements to apply energy to the combustion reaction;
• one or more sensors configured to sense one or more parameters associated with the combustion reaction;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to the high voltage power supply and the one or more sensors and configured to cause a change in the one or more control signals responsive to changes in the one or more parameters associated with the combustion reaction;
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• detect the changes in the one or more parameters from the one or more sensors;
• compare the changes in the one or more parameters to a database that includes a plurality of changes in the one or more control signals operatively linked to a plurality of the changes in the one or more parameters;
• select the change in the one or more control signals from the database responsive to the changes in the one or more parameters;
• and
• control the high voltage power supply to apply the change in the one or more control signals to the one or more first charge elements and further comprising a waveform generator that is:
• operatively coupled to the controller and the high voltage power supply;
• configured to generate one or more waveforms;
• and
• configured together with the controller to drive the one or more outputs of the high voltage power supply with the one or more waveforms such that the one or more control signals include the one or more waveforms.