🚀 go-pugleaf

I have been trying to build some power supplies for gas
discharge systems (argon ion laser, CO2 laser, high
pressure xenon arc lamp) and have repeatedly run into
the same two general problems.

     1) How do you generate the high voltage necessary 
to initiate breakdown of the gas without frying all your
low voltage high current components?

     2) How do you regulate the running current to prevent
oscillation when you have more than a few amps of power to
deal with (ballast resistors dissipate way too much heat)

I realize I could probably solve problem 1 by using high 
voltage/high current rectifiers, but this is cost prohibitive
and these kind of components are hard to find new in small 
quantities let alone surplus.

Is problem 2 a candidate for pulse width modulation?

Please note that I am only a hobbiest and not an EE. Any
pointers to cheap power component sources (I'm not totally
adverse to using tubes) or texts, especially with practical
as well as theoretical information would be greatly appreciated.

Notes on scale of power supplies:

     would like to run argon ion at approx 90V 10A
     CO2 laser up to 5Kw input power 5Kv 1A (dream on)
     xenon lamp 14V 30A	approx 10Kv to strike

Please E-Mail me and if there's enough intrest, I'll 
summarize and post the response.

Thanks in advance,

       Mark E. Standiford
       dpd007@atc.boeing.com