Experimental observations of infrared emission(2‐10.6 &mgr;m)from a dense plasma focus have been made, along with the standard diagnostics of neutrons, x rays, and visible light. The thermal bremsstrahlung spectrum has been observed over the range2 &mgr;m ≲ &lgr; ≲ 6.5 &mgr;m. Occasional bursts of strong, nonthermal infrared occur for&lgr; ≳ 5 &mgr;mwith enhancements up to 106over thermal radiation level. At a filling pressure of 1.6 Torr D2, the enhanced radiation occurs during the dense pinch stage of the discharge; however, at lower pressure (1.1 Torr), the maximum emission occurs during and shortly after the breakup of the dense pinch.