Radiative mechanisms in laser-produced plasmas in Xe

In the present paper the LPP in Xenon at nearly atmospheric pressure is stu died by frequency as well as temporal resolved spectroscopy. Experimental e vidence confirms that the radiative recombination in the aftermath of the l aser pulse, is the main mechanism by which the plasma dissipates its energy . It is also evident that the plasma observed is heated after the laser pul se ends, by a radiative wave evolving from the laser spot which also provid es electrons. The evidence is supported by a careful analysis of the tempor al evolution of ionized species, by the temporal evolution of the spectral shifts of the line spectrum and its spectral width, and by a careful analys is of the continuum emitted after the line spectrum in the plasma during th e initial time-stage. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.