High‐power discharge in Na‐Xe vapor

High‐power (10–100 MW/liter) pulsed discharges in Na‐doped Xe vapor have been studied at Na densities of 1015–1016 cm−3 and Xe densities of 1019–1020 cm−3, as appropriate for excimer‐laser use. Stable steady‐state discharges are obtained for a number of microseconds in a small‐volume cell, without use of preionization or sustainers. This stability is attributed to the observed positive V‐I characteristic. Measured spectra are interpreted to yield Na excited‐state densities, and the implications for a potential excimer laser are discussed.