radiation continuum

in spectrochemistry
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05052
Continuous (in the @W06659@, not time sense) @R05048@ arising for example from non-quantized free-free transitions of electrons in the fields of the ions, free-bound transitions or radiative recombinations of electrons and ions, incandescent radiation emitted by hot solids (when the radiation distribution conforms to that described by Planck's law, it is considered black-body radiation) and unresolvable @B00595@, i.e. where the spectral lines are wider than the spacings between them.
Source:
PAC, 1985, 57, 1453. (Nomenclature, symbols, units and their usage in spectrochemical analysis - V: Radiation sources (Recommendations 1985)) on page 1462 [Terms] [Paper]