Wing formulae for plasma-broadened spectral lines of hydrogenic ions

Abstract

Spectrum lines of hydrogenic ions in plasmas are broadened by both ion and electron perturbers. In the present paper the ion contributions are calculated using conventional quasistatic theory, and the electron contributions using a quantum-mechanical one-perturber theory. In many previous papers it has been assumed that quasi-static theory can be used to calculate the electron contributions in the line wings. The validity of that assumption is discussed. Comparison with the results of the quantum-mechanical calculations shows that the quasi-static theory gives electron wing profiles in error by factors ranging from about 0.5 to 2.0.