Theory of Resonance Broadening Including the Duration of Collision Effects

Abstract

Theoretical expressions are derived for the complete line shape in resonance broadening using two independent methods, viz. (a) propagator techniques, (b) kinetic theory techniques. These expressions are valid for any duration of collision in the binary collision regime, and reduce to the impact (static) limit results when the average duration of collision is small (large). The expressions involve the Fourier transform of the two body collision operator and, therefore, these are quite suitable for actual numerical calculations.