A plasma lamp including a waveguide body including at least one dielectric
material with a dielectric constant greater than approximately 2. The
body is coupled to a microwave source which causes the body to resonate
in at least one resonant mode. At least one lamp chamber integrated with
the body contains a bulb with a fill forming a light-emitting plasma when
the chamber receives power from the resonating body. A bulb either is
self-enclosed or an envelope sealed by a window or lens covering the
chamber aperture. Embodiments disclosed include lamps having a drive
probe and a feedback probe, and lamps having a drive probe, feedback
probe and start probe, which minimize power reflected from the body back
to the source both before each plasma is formed and after it reaches
steady state.