Inductively coupled plasma light source with switched power supply

A light source comprising:

• a) a chamber comprising a high voltage region, a low voltage region, and a plasma generation region, the plasma generation region defining a plasma confinement region;
• b) a magnetic core positioned around a portion of the chamber, the magnetic core configured to generate a plasma in the plasma generation region that converges in the plasma confinement region;
• c) a switched power supply having an output that is electrically connected between the high voltage region and the low voltage region of the chamber, the switched power supply comprising a direct current (DC) power supply and a switched resonant charging circuit that together generate a plurality of voltage pulses at the output causing a plurality of current pulses to be applied to a power delivery section around the magnetic core so that at least one plasma loop is established around the magnetic core that confines plasma in the plasma confinement region, thereby forming a magnetically-confined Z-pinch plasma;
• and
• d) a port positioned adjacent to the plasma generation region that allows light generated by the Z-pinch plasma to propagate out of the light source.