Method for positioning deflagration-detonation transition during operation of a pulse detonation combustor

A technique for operating a pulse detonation combustor (PDC) is provided. A flow of fuel/air mixture is provided to the combustion tube (120) via an inlet (110) and an initiation system (150) is activated at a selected location along the length of the combustion tube to ignite the fuel/air mixture within the combustion tube at the selected location. This allows selection of an expected detonation region at which the combustion of the fuel/air mixture is expected to transition to a detonation.