Infrared radiation from the dense plasma focus

Experimental observations of infrared emission (2-10.6 μm) from a dense plasma focus have been made, along with the standard diagnostics of neutrons, x rays, and visible light. The thermal bremsstrahlung spectrum has been observed over the range 2 μm ≲ λ ≲ 6.5 μm. Occasional bursts of strong, nonthermal infrared occur for λ ≳ 5 μm with enhancements up to 106 over thermal radiation level. At a filling pressure of 1.6 Torr D2, the enhanced radiation occurs during the dense pinch stage of the discharge; however, at lower pressure (1.1 Torr), the maximum emission occurs during and shortly after the breakup of the dense pinch.