Collisional broadening

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-002230",
  "term": "Collisional broadening",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The widening of spectral lines caused by collisions of an emitting or absorbing atom or molecule with other particles, which interrupt the radiative process and spread the transition over a range of frequencies, usually with a Lorentzian profile and a small shift of the line centre. The width grows with the collision rate, so it rises with gas pressure. Collisions between unlike species give foreign-gas broadening, and collisions between like species give resonance broadening.",
  "synonyms": [
    "Lorentz broadening",
    "Holtsmark broadening"
  ],
  "subject": "Analytical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "resonance"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Orange Book, 2nd ed., p. 122 (https://media.iupac.org/publications/analytical_compendium/)",
    "PAC, 1985, 57, 1453. 'Nomenclature, symbols, units and their usage in spectrochemical analysis - V: Radiation sources (Recommendations 1985)' on page 1463 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac198557101453)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/collisional-broadening/"
}