Spark gaps distributed along helical electrodes to preionize pressurised gas lasers

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A bifilar helical electrode arrangement for higher gas pressures comprises a helical anode and a helical cathode, a plurality of capacitors spaced along the lengths of the helical electrode structures, and a plurality of spark gaps located within or closely adjacent the discharge zone. Each capacitor is connected in parallel to the electrode gap via low-resistance and low-inductance leads; whereas each spark gap is connected in series with at least one capacitor in order to charge it via the correlated spark's current.