Device for igniting an air-fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine by means of a high frequency electric energy source

A device for igniting an air-fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine using a high-frequency electrical power source, comprising:

• a coaxial waveguide structure into which the high-frequency electrical power source is coupled, the coaxial waveguide structure having an inner conductor and outer conductor;
• wherein the inner conductor projects from one end of the coaxial waveguide structure by a predefined amount and protrudes into an individual combustion chamber of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, a microwave plasma being generated at the one end of the coaxial waveguide structure by a high voltage potential, and wherein the one end of the coaxial waveguide structure is configured as an igniter such that when a voltage potential is applied, a free-standing plasma is generated in the air-fuel mixture around the inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide structure that projects from the one end of the coaxial waveguide structure, by field lines protruding into the combustion chamber.