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A similar circuit is in every plasma cutter.[1] For the same reason; you need a high voltage pulse to ionize the working gas (usually air) and start the arc.

[1] https://guelphweddingshop.blogspot.com/

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If you used xenon as the working gas in a plasma cutter, would you essentially have a xenon arc lamp?

Yes.[1]

[1] https://youtu.be/qUutgYBqSoI

(I miss the days of TechShop, when I had access to tools like that.)

I miss TechShop, too. If making is your passion theres good news: it isn't dead. Current virus issue excluded there are many smaller maker spaces you can join in the bay.

I have small tools. TechShop had the big stuff - CNC mills, waterjets, plasma cutters. I used all of those. The smaller maker spaces are at the low-end 3D printer level. Maybe a wood shop. There's Humanmade in SF, which has much of the old TechShop gear, but it's an hour away and twice as expensive as TechShop.

And tig welders that can do AC.

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