Abstract: A detection system includes flame sources at least two of which are independently controllable; photodetectors each having an independent view of the flame sources and being capable of producing a respective current signal in response to flames produced by the flame sources; and a device for analyzing the current signals to determine state values of a plurality of state variables and transform the state values into at least one parameter value. A number of the flame sources is at least as high as a number of the state variables, and a number of the photodetectors is at least as high as the number of the state variables. In one embodiment, the flame sources include gas burners in a gas combustion chamber, the photodetectors include silicon carbide photodiodes, and the parameter value is representative of fuel rate, temperature, acoustic dynamics, nitrogen oxide concentration, or carbon monoxide concentration.