Here's another old plasma tube that was donated to the VLA by Mr. John Zumdieck of Bellevue, Washington. Originally built by Mathematical Sciences Northwest (now STI Optronics), it was used to demonstrate "magnetic-switch assist for copper vapor lasers," the title of the DOE report from around 1980. the abstract says "A copper-vapor laser has been operated with a drive circuit that employs magnetic compression. Thyratron stress was reduced by magnetic switching, so that extended tube life may be expected. Optical output power was increased with magnetic-switch assist."
The tube was also mounted on a stump for 30+ years, but cleaned up real nice. Love those massive 6" diameter Brewster windows!