Dual-mode ignition system utilizing traveling spark ignitor

An electrical circuit for use with a traveling spark ignitor, said ignitor including at least two spaced apart electrodes and an electrically insulating material filling a substantial portion of the volume between said electrodes and forming a surface between said electrodes, the unfilled volume between the electrodes forming a discharge gap including a discharge initiation region, and said electrodes being arranged and configured such that a width of the discharge gap is relatively large with respect to its length, the circuit comprising:

• electrical circuitry coupled to said electrodes and having a first portion and a second portion;
• wherein the first portion provides a first voltage which causes a plasma channel to be formed between the electrodes at the discharge initiation region;
• and
• wherein the second portion provides a second voltage to the ignitor that sustains a current through the plasma and wherein the current through the plasma and a magnetic field, caused by a current flowing through at least one of the electrodes due to the current through the plasma, interact creating a Lorentz force acting on the plasma that, in combination with thermal expansion forces, causes the plasma to expand and move away from the initiation region, and wherein the second portion includes a controlling element that allow the amount of energy provided to the ignitor to be varied based on at least one external input.