A BRV intense vacuum spark source has been designed. It offers several advantages

high intensity

extended and smooth continuum

a good viability. It is capable of producing a smooth continuum spectrum from the visible down to at least 4nm. Its reproducibility and stability is found to be better than 15%. It is best suited to use in the general laboratories which do not require the specific properties of the synchrotron radiation. It has widespread practical value in the field of research and technology of VUV spectroscopy

soft X ray microscopy and photoetching etc. The paper mainly describes the operation principle

the design thought and the specific structure of the source. The time-resolved spectra of the BRV plasma source has been studied at different wavelength in a range of 50-300 nm. The temporal response of optical pulse radiation on the order of millimicrosecond has been probed. We determined relative spectral distribution characteristic of the source. It is discussed that the influence of several outer discharge parameter on the spectral characterlstic and the discharge stability. By adding a cap made of teflon on top of the anode

the reproducibility and radiance have been improved further.