Time-resolved spectroscopy of light emission from plasma generated by a converging strong shock wave in water

The results of time-resolved spectroscopic measurements of light emission from plasma formed in the vicinity of a converging spherical strong shock wave (SSW) are reported. This approach, together with hydrodynamic (HD) and radiative-transfer simulations, can be used for the characterization of the SSW convergence symmetry and the parameters of water at that location. It was shown that the obtained time-of-flight of the SSW and emission spectra agree well with the results of the simulation, showing that the water density, temperature, and pressure should be larger than similar to 3 g/cm(-3), similar to 1.4 eV, and similar to 2 x 10(11) Pa, respectively, at radii <25 mu m with respect to the origin of the SSW implosion. Published by AIP Publishing.