Review of recent advances in the analytical theory of Stark broadening of spectral lines in plasmas: applications to laboratory discharges and astrophysical plasmas

Abstract

We present an overview of latest advances in the analytical theory of Stark broadening of spectral lines and their applications to various types of laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. They include: 1) in-depth study of intra-Stark spectroscopy in the x-ray range in relativistic laser-plasma interactions; 2) effect of diamagnetism on the number of observable hydrogen lines in plasmas; 3) influence of magnetic-field-caused modifications of trajectories of plasma electrons on the width of hydrogen/deuterium spectral lines: applications to white dwarfs; 4) Stark broadening of hydrogen/deuterium spectral lines by a relativistic electron beam: analytical results and applications to magnetic fusion; 5) counterintuitive dependence of the dynamical Stark width of hydrogenic spectral lines on the electron density.