Review of Recent Advances in the Analytical Theory of Stark Broadening of Hydrogenic Spectral Lines in Plasmas: Applications to Laboratory Discharges and Astrophysical Objects

Abstract

There is presented an overview of the latest advances in the analytical theory of Stark broadening of hydrogenic spectral lines in various types of laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. They include: (1) advanced analytical treatment of the Stark broadening of hydrogenic spectral lines by plasma electrons; (2) center-of-mass effects for hydrogen atoms in a nonuniform electric field: applications to magnetic fusion, radiofrequency discharges, and flare stars; (3) penetrating-ions-caused shift of hydrogenic spectral lines in plasmas; (4) improvement of the method for measuring the electron density based on the asymmetry of hydrogenic spectral lines in dense plasmas; (5) Lorentz–Doppler broadening of hydrogen/deuterium spectral lines: analytical solution for any angle of observation and any magnetic field strength, and its applications to magnetic fusion and solar physics; (6) Revision of the Inglis-Teller diagnostic method; (7) Stark broadening of hydrogen/deuterium spectral lines by a relativistic electron beam: analytical results and applications to magnetic fusion; (8) Influence of magnetic-field-caused modifications of the trajectories of plasma electrons on shifts and relative intensities of Zeeman components of hydrogen/deuterium spectral lines: applications to magnetic fusion and white dwarfs; (9) Influence of magnetic-field-caused modifications of trajectories of plasma electrons on the width of hydrogen/deuterium spectral lines: applications to white dwarfs; (10) Stark broadening of hydrogen lines in plasmas of electron densities up to or more than Ne~1020 cm−3; and, (11) The shape of spectral lines of two-electron Rydberg atoms/ions: a peculiar Stark broadening.