An example system can include a radio-frequency power source, a resonator, and a plasma-distributing structure. The resonator can include an electrode having a first concentrator. The resonator can be configured to provide a plasma corona when excited by the power source with a signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter of a resonant wavelength of the resonator. The plasma-distributing structure can be arranged proximate to the plasma corona provided by the resonator and include a second concentrator. When the power source excites the resonator with the signal, an electric field can be concentrated at the first concentrator and the plasma corona can be provided proximate to the first concentrator. Further, when the plasma corona is provided proximate to the first concentrator and the plasma-distributing structure is at a predetermined voltage, an additional plasma corona can be established proximate to the second concentrator.

An example system can include a combustion chamber of a jet engine, one or more radio-frequency power sources, a plurality of resonators, and a fuel conduit. Each resonator has a respective resonant wavelength. Further, each resonator can include (i) a respective first conductor, (ii), a respective second conductor, and (iii) a respective dielectric between the respective first conductor and the respective second conductor. Each resonator can be configured such that, when the resonator is excited by a corresponding radio-frequency power source with a respective signal, the resonator provides at least one of a plasma corona or electromagnetic waves. The fuel conduit can be configured to couple to a fuel source and have a fuel outlet for expelling fuel into a combustion zone of the combustion chamber. A portion of the fuel conduit is arranged proximate to the respective dielectric of a given resonator of the plurality of resonators.

An example system and corresponding method includes a jet engine combustor and a resonator. The combustor includes (i) a combustion zone, (ii) one or more fuel inlets for introducing fuel into the combustion zone for combustion, and (iii) one or more fins protruding into the combustion zone and configured to guide combustion of the fuel along a flame path. The resonator can have a resonant wavelength and can provide a plasma corona in the combustion zone when excited with a signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter () of the resonant wavelength. A radio-frequency power source can excite the resonator with the signal so as to provide the plasma corona in the combustion zone and cause combustion of the fuel along the flame path.

An example system and corresponding method can include a combustion chamber of jet engine, a radio-frequency power source, and a resonator. The combustion chamber can include a liner defining a combustion zone, and include a fuel inlet configured to introduce fuel into the combustion zone. The resonator can have a resonant wavelength and include: a first conductor, a second conductor, a dielectric, and an electrode coupled to the first conductor. The resonator can be configured such that, when the resonator is excited by the radio-frequency power source with a signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter () of the resonant wavelength, the resonator provides a plasma corona in the combustion zone. The controller can be configured to cause the radio-frequency power source to excite the resonator with the signal so as to provide the plasma corona.

A system includes a radio-frequency power source, a resonator, a fuel outlet, and an afterburner. The afterburner includes a duct that defines a channel, and can receive gas from a turbine of a jet engine into the channel and output a gas resulting from combusting fuel within the channel. The resonator can be configured to be electromagnetically coupled to the power source and has a resonant wavelength. The resonator includes first and second conductors, a dielectric between the first and second conductors, and an electrode coupled to the first conductor and disposed within the afterburner. The fuel outlet outputs fuel into the channel for mixing with the gas from the turbine. The resonator, when excited by the power source with a signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter of the resonant wavelength, provides electromagnetic waves and/or a plasma corona proximate to a concentrator of the electrode.

Example implementations relate to electromagnetic wave modification of fuel in a power-generation turbine. An example implementation includes a power-generation turbine. The power-generation turbine includes a combustion chamber, a radio-frequency power source, and a fuel conduit configured to provide a fuel to the combustion chamber. In addition, the power-generation turbine includes a resonator configured to electromagnetically couple to the radio-frequency power source and having a resonant wavelength. The resonator includes a first conductor, a second conductor, and a dielectric between the first conductor and the second conductor. The resonator is configured such that, when the resonator is excited by the radio-frequency power source with a signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter () of the resonant wavelength, the resonator radiates electromagnetic waves usable to modify (i) the fuel within the fuel conduit or (ii) a fuel mixture, which includes the fuel, within the combustion chamber.

An example system and corresponding method can include a combustion chamber of a power-generation gas turbine, a radio-frequency power source, and a resonator. The combustion chamber can include a liner defining a combustion zone, and include a fuel inlet configured to introduce fuel into the combustion zone. The resonator can have a resonant wavelength and include: a first conductor, a second conductor, a dielectric, and an electrode coupled to the first conductor. The resonator can be configured such that, when the resonator is excited by the radio-frequency power source with a signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter of the resonant wavelength, the resonator provides a plasma corona in the combustion zone. The controller can be configured to cause the radio-frequency power source to excite the resonator with the signal so as to provide the plasma corona.

An example system can include a combustion chamber of a jet engine, a radio-frequency power source, a direct-current power source, a resonator, and a fuel conduit. The resonator can be electromagnetically coupled to the radio-frequency power source and have a resonant wavelength. Further, the resonator can include (i) a first conductor, (ii), a second conductor, and (iii) a dielectric between the first conductor and the second conductor. The resonator can be configured to provide at least one of a plasma corona or electromagnetic waves. The fuel conduit can be configured to couple to a fuel source and have a fuel outlet for expelling fuel into a combustion zone of the combustion chamber. A portion of the fuel conduit is disposed within the first conductor.

An example system can include a combustor of a power-generation turbine, a radio-frequency power source, a plasma-distributing structure, and a resonator having a first concentrator. The combustor can include one or more fins protruding into a combustion zone and can be configured to guide combustion of fuel along a flame path defined by the fin(s). The resonator can be configured to provide a plasma corona when excited by the power source. The plasma-distributing structure can be arranged within the combustor and proximate to the plasma corona, and can include a second concentrator. When the resonator is excited, the plasma corona can be provided proximate to the first concentrator. Further, when the plasma corona is provided proximate to the first concentrator and the plasma-distributing structure is at a predetermined voltage, an additional plasma corona can be established proximate to the second concentrator and at least partly within the flame path.

An example system and corresponding method includes a jet engine combustor and a plurality of resonators. The combustor includes (i) a combustion zone, (ii) one or more fuel inlets for introducing fuel into the combustion zone for combustion, and (iii) one or more fins protruding into the combustion zone and configured to guide combustion of the fuel along a flame path. The resonators can each have a respective resonant wavelength and can each provide a respective plasma corona in the combustion zone when excited with a respective signal having a wavelength proximate to an odd-integer multiple of one-quarter () of the respective resonant wavelength. A radio-frequency power source can excite the resonators with the respective signals so as to provide the respective plasma coronas in the combustion zone and cause combustion of the fuel along the flame path.