On ionization of electronically excited molecules in hydrocarbon combustion under strong electric field

We suggest an explanation for the disagreement between the theoretically calculated and experimentally measured data concerning the electric current detected in diagnostic devices (like electric probes or flame ionization detectors, FID) used for investigation of the ionization processes in high-temperature mixtures of molecular gases at normal pressure. The conclusions are in good agreement with experimental data under the condition that the strong electric field produced by the electrodes of the diagnostic devices induces additional ionization of electronically excited molecules, which are always present in combustion products.