Studies of a light source based on the retardation of supersonic pulse discharge jets

The spectral distribution of the radiated energy of an imploded plasma formed through the collision of a super-sonic plasma jet of a pulse discharge against a stationary obstacle was studied. Its brightness temperature and absorption were measured. It is shown that the plasma can served as a source of a continuous spectrum with an energy distribution similar to that of an absolute blackbody. The brightness temperature of the source was variable over a broad range by appropriate adjustment of the discharge conditions.The authors are very grateful to M. A. El'yashevich for his interest in the present study and for his valuable comments on the results.