Diagnostic applications of the most advanced theory and code for Stark broadening of hydrogen lines in plasmas

Summary form only given. The theory combines two new phenomena in electron broadening with an improved treatment of the ion dynamics. The first new phenomenon is a strong Indirect Coupling (IC) between the electron and ion broadenings carried out via the radiating atom acting as an intermediary. The higher the plasma density and/or the principal quantum number of the radiator, the more important the IC becomes. For most hydrogen lines, the IC results in a significant decrease of the linewidth, except few lines, such as the L, line, where the IC decreases the width. The second new phenomenon is a strong Direct Coupling (DC) between the electron and ion broadenings, represented by the acceleration of the perturbing electron by the ion nearest to the radiator. The DC results in a narrowing of the lines, which becomes quite dramatic as the temperature decreases and/or the density increases.