The formation of the spatial structure of a diffuse discharge in excimer lasers at high pump powers

The results of studies on the formation of the spatial structure of a diffuse discharge in XeCl laser with a maximum specific pumping power of 5 MW/cm
³
are presented. It is shown that under certain conditions of discharge ignition with an increase in the pump power, a spatial distribution of the flowing current in the discharge gap occurs without the development of contraction. It is shown that the highest specific energy extraction
$\sim 15\ \mathrm{J}/\mathrm{l}$
from the active medium is realized in a structured discharge. Plasma-chemical processes occurring in a diffuse discharge at a maximum electron concentration in the plasma of
$\sim 7\times 10^{15}\ \text{cm}^{-3}$
are considered.