Cumulative plasmadynamic reactor for laser and photochemical studies

A description is given of a high-power pulse-periodic radiation source with an extended luminous body and a high brightness temperature (~30×10³ K) in the visible and near infrared parts of the spectrum. It is designed for laser and photochemical studies. A plasma is heated by a dynamic method based on thermalization of the kinetic energy of high-velocity plasma streams formed by magnetoplasma compressors of the erosion type; shock deceleration is the thermalization process. The results are reported of an experimental investigation of the spectral, energy, and dynamic characteristics of various shock deceleration configurations for plasma streams in vacuum and in gases (air, xenon), together with the spectral luminescence and lasing characteristics of molecular iodine vapor subjected to pulsed photoexcitation with radiation from the new plasmadynamic source.