Characteristics of a unipolar corona discharge in active media of high-pressure atomic Ar, Kr, and Xe lasers

A study was made of the characteristics of a negative corona discharge with a continuous power supply in a point – plane electrode system, ignited at pressures of 50 — 350 kPa in He:R = 100:1 (R = Ar, Kr, or Xe) mixtures typical of active media of high-pressure discharge R* lasers. This discharge was found to be highly homogeneous during its steady stage and the specific pump power deposited in the plasma exceeded 1 W cm^–3, which could be used in cw high-pressure discharge R* lasers.