Experimental investigation of the possibility of using a highcurrent discharge for the optical pumping of an Xe2 laser

An investigation was made of an electric discharge which was initiated by an exploding wire in a Textolite gap 1.3–2 mm wide filled with air at a pressure of 0.25–1 atm. The discharge expanded at a velocity of 6–11 km/sec. A discharge in xenon expanding at a velocity of 7–8 km/sec should be capable of pumping an Xe₂ laser with radiation emitted from a layer of strongly compressed gas located between the moving discharge boundary and the undisturbed gas.