Characteristics of a corona discharge in active media of pulse-periodic XeCl* lasers emitting at λ = 308 nm

An investigation was made of the characteristics of a corona discharge in He — Xe — HCl mixtures (close in composition to the active media of XeCl^* lasers) at pressures of 100 — 300 kPa. Studies were made of the ignition regimes and of the characteristics of a corona discharge used in the systems for preionisation of the active media of excimer lasers and of selective high-pressure excimer lamps. A study was also made of the influence of λ = 337.1 nm laser radiation on the average current — voltage characteristics of a corona discharge in an He — Xe — HCl mixture. The conditions were found for the formation of a stable negative corona, which could be used for electrical circulation of active media of pulse-periodic XeCl^* lasers, and also in preionisation systems of atomic Xe^* and long-pulse XeCl^* lasers.