Features of a High-Current Pulse-Periodic Cesium Discharge as a Source of Visible Radiation

A pulse-periodic cesium discharge is studied in a wide range of its parameters in two lamps with burners of the same diameter (5 mm), but with different interelectrode spacings (55 and 22 mm). It is found that such a decrease in the length of the plasma column leads to a significant change in the properties of the discharge. In the longer burner, contraction of the discharge column occurs as the pressure increases with the localization of the plasma column at the wall of the discharge tube, and a significant increase in lamp efficacy is observed with a further increase in pressure. In the shorter burner, contraction occurs at lower pressures (specific powers) with the localization of the plasma column along the tube axis, and there is no increase in lamp efficacy with a subsequent increase in pressure.