This paper presents a new cathode structure for short length arc-plasma circular lamp DRKs2-1500 filled with mercury-xenon of super high pressure. A conventional cathode of thoriated tungsten was replaced by a new structure of tungsten-barium. This cathode has emitting surface of cavity form which enables to reduce active material evaporation from the surface and to increase emission stability. It was found that light parameters of the lamp depend on the geometry of its electrodes. Fusing and evaporation of the cathode material result in a cathode size change and lead to changes of arc-plasma parameters, blackening of the lamp envelope and decreasing luminous flux intensity. The tests showed that the lamp service life with the new cathode grows as much as 2-3 times. Optimization of the cathode cavity geometric size is expected to enlarge the lamp service life up to 30005000 h (guaranteed service life of a lamp with usual structure of cathode is 500 h). (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.