A new procedure for obtaining the Voigt function dependent upon the complex error function

Abstract

This work proposes a new method for obtaining the differential equation of the Voigt function and, from this equation, expressing the Voigt function as dependent upon the complex error function. In addition, the integral expression of the successive derivatives of the Voigt function is given, and from this a method is generalized which permits the representation, also, of other functions depending on the complex error function. This enables us to simplify other functions which are the convolution of a Gaussian function with rational polynomial functions. Moreover, the relationship between the Lorentzian ( w L ), Gaussian ( w G ) and Voigt ( w V ) widths at half maximum for the function is given, which is of great interest in diverse branches of physics, such as plasma spectroscopy, astrophysics, nuclear magnetic resonance, etc.