Hydrogen Balmer-α broadening in dense plasmas

This work presents a theoretical analysis of experimental results for the hydrogen Balmer-cr line in dense plasmas, with electron densities between 2X10(18) and 9X10(18) e/cm(3). A simulation of both electrons and ions is employed to produce reliable theoretical widths. These results are essentially in agreement with standard theory results and, for the most part, disagree with the experimental results. Consequently, either mechanisms not accounted for in the theoretical results (such as quadrupoles) are more important than previously thought at these densities, or else there is a problem in the experimental data (such as a possible reabsorption, which is not ruled out by the experimental data). [S1063-651X(99)00208-1].