Ion contribution to the prominent Ne I, Ar I and Kr I spectral line broadening

Abstract

On the basis of the observed asymmetry of the measured spectral line profiles we have obtained the ion contribution to the Ne I (26 lines), Ar I (19 lines) and Kr I (20 lines) spectral line broadening due to the quasi-static ion approximation and ion-dynamical effects. The ion broadening parameters (A) and the ion dynamic coefficients (D) have been obtained directly by the use of our line deconvolution procedure which allows the determination of the basic physical properties that characterize the line profile and also the relevant plasma parameters. We are the first to publish experimental data, viz. D and A values for the Ne I, Ar I and Kr I lines. The 26 Ne I, 6 Ar I and 9 Kr I A values are the first measured data and many of them are the first published data in this field. We have found clear evidence of the quasi-static ion and ion-dynamical effects on the investigated tine shapes; they play a much more important role than the approaches based on semiclassical theory provide, especially in the case of the Ne i spectral lines. This is of importance for astrophysical plasma modeling and diagnostics.