Generation of large-scale radiative vortex structures at stagnation of pulsed plasma jets in air

Large-scale vortex structures forming when pulsed plasma jets of the capillary discharge stagnate in atmospheric air are investigated. It is shown that injection of high-enthalpy plasma jets into air may effectively generate electromagnetic radiation from the optical range: the energy yield of radiation reaches 20–37% of the total energy content of the plasma. The radiation pulse has a complex time waveform including micro-and nanosecond components.