Die Bremsstrahlung von Plasmen bei geringer Ionisation

It is shown, that the continuous spectrum (free-free radiation) of a plasma in a thermal equilibrium — if the degree of ionization is slight — is produced not only by the electron-ion impacts, but also to a considerable extent by the impacts of electrons with the neutral atoms. Under this assumption the radiation of a mercury arc plasma in the infra-red is calculated. The results are in good agreement with absolute radiation measurements in a wide range of frequencies and pressures.