Self-sustained electric photoionization discharge in three-component mixtures containing rare gases and halogen–bearing molecules

A theory is developed of a self-sustained electric photoionization (EPI) discharge in which the conductivity in the active volume is produced as a result of photoionization of excited particles by the laser self-emission. It is shown that the current-voltage characteristics of an EPI discharge are largely governed by the optical properties of the resonator. Calculations are made of the energy parameters of excimer lasers pumped by a self-sustained discharge.