GEM operation in pure noble gases and the avalanche confinement

We study the operation of the Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) in pure Ar and almost pure Xe. Rather high gas gains obtained in pure Ar, of the order of 1000, are explained by the effect of the avalanche confinement to a GEM micro-hole. Applications to the development of non-ageing sealed photon detector filled with pure noble gases are discussed. In particular, it is shown that the photoelectron collection efficiency deteriorated in pure Ar due to electron backscattering, can be recovered by operation at a higher electric field.