Performance of a ballistic compressor as a high-intensity pulsed light source.

Xenon gas has been compressively heated from 8000 K to 15 000 K at peak pressures of 800-2400 atm. Brightness measurements were made of the emitted radiation at selected wavelengths in the visible. In a few cases, a time-resolved spectrum was obtained. The results obtained from a theoretical analysis are shown to be in reasonable agreement with experimentally measured values. A high efficiency for conversion of mechanical energy to radiant energy is indicated and suggests the use of such a device as an efficient source for laser pumping.