Detailed balance in far-wing line shape theories: Comparisons between different formalisms

Abstract

Comparisons are made between different methods of introducing the principle of detailed balance in far-wing line shape theories. In particular, it is shown that by symmetrizing the operators in the quasistatic formulation of Ma and Tipping [J. Chem. Phys. 95, 6290 (1991)], one can obtain the same results for the symmetrized matrix elements of the relaxation operator and their frequency detuning that were introduced in an ad hoc way in the resonant quasistatic formulations of Boulet and co-workers [J. Chem. Phys. 91, 2163 (1989); 94, 6406 (1991)].