Continuum Radiation Source of High Intensity

Abstract

Highly reproducible light sources using sliding sparks through polyethylene capillaries are described. They emit an essentially continuous spectrum which can be used for absorption measurements or as a secondary intensity standard. The light pulses (reproducible within ±4%) can be triggered with jitter times shorter than ±5 nsec and with a typical half-duration of 60 nsec. In consequence of the high electron density (2.5×10¹⁹ cm⁻³) achieved, the visible continuum intensity (a typical value being 1.0×10¹¹ W cm⁻³ sr⁻¹ at 4340 Å) follows approximately the blackbody radiation law. The corresponding temperature (450 000°K) is in agreement with the observation of lines and free-bound continua of highly-ionized carbon ions (C v and C vi) in the soft x-ray region.