Ignition device for igniting an air/fuel mixture in a combustion chamber

An ignition device for igniting an air/fuel mixture in a combustion chamber, with a spark plug having exactly two electrodes namely a first electrode and a second electrode, having a high voltage source for generating an electrical high voltage pulse at an output of the high voltage source and having a high frequency voltage source for generating an electrical high frequency alternating voltage at an output of the high frequency voltage source, wherein the output of the high voltage source is connected electrically to the first electrode of the spark plug via a first electrical conduction path in such a way that the high voltage pulse is present at the first electrode, and wherein the output of the high frequency voltage source is connected electrically to the second electrode via a second electrical conduction path in such a way that the high frequency alternating voltage is present at the second electrode, wherein a protective circuit is looped electrically into the second electrical conduction path between the second electrode of the spark plug and the output of the high frequency voltage source which blocks a breakdown of the high voltage pulse from the high voltage source to the output of the high frequency voltage source;

• and
• wherein only the high voltage pulse is present at the first electrode and that only the high frequency alternating voltage is present at the second electrode.