A complete stochastic theory of relaxation is developed in terms of a homogeneous equation for the averaged density matrix of a system immersed in a thermal bath. This theory is then used as the basis of a new stochastic approach to the phenomenon of collisional broadening of spectral line shapes. Single photon and multiphoton processes are studied. The features of a line shape are linked by simple expressions to the statistical properties of a stochastic hermitian Hamiltonian. The ordinary line shape predicted by Kubo's approach is generalized. The present approach predicts broadening as well as asymmetry and shift. A representation of line shapes in multiphoton processes by diagrams is also developed.

Thesis (Ph. D.)-- University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 242-251).

The object of this thesis is to extend the current tables for two useful quantities when calculatingcollisional broadening, the cross-section of interaction and the velocity parameter.These quantities, which have hitherto been tabulated for lower states, have now been calculatedfor higher lying states and are used in the ABO - model for spectral line broadening.Having larger tables for these values enables broadening calculations for more spectral linesand this thesis shows examples of calculations which beneted from this. During the calculationsof the tables some unexpected behaviour in the distribution of values arose whichhas not been seen previously. This could point to an unknown underlying mechanism.

<p>Ispitivana je zavisnost brzine fronta udarnih talasa u T-cevi od vi&scaron;e parametara. Izvr&scaron;eno je povezivanje ICCD kamere sa spektrometrom. Ispitane su karakteristike celokupnog sistema i izvr&scaron;ena je njegova optimizacija i kalibracija. Izmerene su &Scaron;tarkove polu&scaron;irine 45 spektralnih linija OII, 13 spektralnih linija Si II i 14 spektralnih linija Si III. Dobijene vrednosti su upoređene sa vrednostima koje se mogu naći u literature, kao i sa teorijskim vrednostima. Urađena je detaljna analiza rezultata iz ovog rada kao i svih dostupnih prethodno dobijenih eksperimentalnih podataka.</p> / <p>The dependence of shock front velocity on different parameters was examined. The ICCD camera was mounted on the spectrometer. The characteristics of the whole system were examined and the system was optimized and calibrated. The Stark halfwidths of 45 O II spectral lines, 13 Si II spectral lines and 14 Si III spectral lines were measured. The obtained values were compared with the data available in the literature, as well as with theoretical values. A detailed analysis of both the experimental results given in this dissertation and previously published experimental data was done.</p>

Analyzing stellar spectra plays a big role in understanding the evolution of our galaxy. Having good data for spectral line properties is very important when analyzing these spectra. One part of the Gaia-ESO public spectroscopic survey (GES) is to gather data for spectral line properties from stellar spectra. The scope of this project is to study one of these properties, the spectral line width caused by collisional broadening by hydrogen. Collisional broadening by hydrogen occurs when a hydrogen atom collides with a particle. The goal of this project is to successfully calculate the collisional spectral line broadening of iron lines where new data is missing from the GES using modern quantum mechanical calculations. These calculations are done using the ABO theory, which is more advanced than previously established theory.A table of Fe-I (Neutral iron) spectral lines without collisional broadening data in the GES has been provided. Using the ABO theory and the accompanying ABO cross section calculator code, estimates of collisional broadening by hydrogen have been calculated for these lines. The new calculations predict that the line width of the spectral lines are typically twice as large compared to older estimates calculated using simpler theory. This new data can be expected to improve stellar spectrum analysis in the Gaia-ESO survey spectra. / Analys av stjärnspektran spelar en stor roll i vår förståelse av vintergatans utveckling. Att ha bra data för spektrallinjers egenskaper är oerhört viktigt vid analys av dessa spektran. En del i Gaia-ESO public spectroscopic survey (GES) är att samla in data för dessa spektrallinjers egenskaper ur stjärnspektran. Omfattningen av detta projekt innefattar att titta närmare på en av dessa egenskaper, spektrallinjebreddning orsakad av kollisionsbreddning av väte. Kollisionsbreddning av väte uppstår när en väteatom kolliderar med en annan partikel. Målet med projektet är att med framgång beräkna kollisionsbreddningen av spektrallinjer från järn där ny data saknas ur GES genom att använda moderna kvantmekaniska beräkningar. Dessa beräkningar är gjorda med den så kallade ABO-teorin, vilken är mer avancerad än tidigare etablerade teorier. En tabell med Fe-I (neutralt järn) spektrallinjer utan kollisionsbreddningsdata i GES har tillhandahållits. Med hjälp av ABO-teorin och den medföljande ABO-tvärsnittsräknar-koden har beräkningar av kollisionsbreddning med väte utförts för dessa linjer. De nya beräkningarna förutser att spektrallinjernas bredd blir typiskt två gånger så stor jämfört med de äldre beräkningarna gjorda med enklare teori. Denna nya data kan förväntas att förbättra analysen av stjärnspektrum ur Gaia-ESO kartläggningen.