What follows the combustion process in a gas turbine engine?

The combustion process in a gas turbine engine produces high-temperature, high-pressure gases which are crucial for the operation of the engine. Following combustion, the next step involves the expansion of these gases, which leads to turbine rotation. The high-energy gases expand and flow through the turbine section, causing the turbine blades to rotate. This rotation is essential as it drives the compressor and continues the cycle of air intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust.

The other options do not accurately represent the immediate next step after combustion. Fuel injection occurs before combustion, air exhaust happens after the gases have passed through the turbine, and compressor action is part of the initial stages of the engine operation, not a direct follow-up to combustion. Understanding this sequence is critical for grasping how gas turbine engines operate efficiently.