A series connected L-C resonant circuit is connected between a lamp electrode of a xenon arc lamp and chassis ground. The L-C circuit has the ability to store energy as well as act as an oscillator. Energized by an initial high voltage pulse to a xenon arc lamp, the L-C circuit extends the ‘tail’ of the initial high voltage pulse provided to ignite the xenon arc lamp with a train or series of high frequency oscillations, which gradually decay. This resonant ‘tail’ causes the plasma streamer in the lamp to remain in the ionized state for an extended time period, until current ramp to the lamp up occurs, resulting in highly reliable ignition of the xenon arc lamp.