VUV radiation of xenon in a fast conical discharge

We have studied the spectra of xenon in the range 10–17 nm emitted in a fast conical discharge ($dI/dt\sim$ 10$^{12}$ A/s). Cumulation of a converging conical shock wave leads to the appearance of a hot plasma region effectively moving along the axis of the discharge. Under conditions of a limited spectral resolution ($\lambda/\delta\lambda\sim$150), we have identified main observed lines. Our analysis of the spectra has shown that the plasma contains Xe XI ions, which are not observed in the case of a discharge with a cylindrical shock wave (a capillary discharge) occurring in the same discharge circuit. We have studied the time behavior of the spectra with a resolution of 35 ns. It has been shown that a hot plasma region exists during the first 150 ns of the discharge, then the plasma is subjected to the action of matter eroded from the inner wall of the discharge cavity.