Maximum input energy of tubular xenon lamps for discharges of 18 μsec duration

The maximum loads and the bursting mechanism of quartz xenon lamps were determined for discharge-current pulses of about 18 μsec duration. The inner diameter of the lamps was 2.8–15.5 mm, the length of the discharge gap was 40–130 mm, the thickness of the tube walls was 1.4–4.5 mm, and the xenon pressure was 5–1000 torr. The principal cause of the bursting of the lamps was the increase in the pressure during the discharge.