Lifetime broadening

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-006564",
  "term": "Lifetime broadening",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The broadening of spectral lines due to the finite lifetime of the excited states of atoms or molecules. According to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, a shorter excited state lifetime leads to a greater uncertainty in its energy, resulting in a broader spectral line. This effect is an intrinsic property of the excited state and contributes to the overall linewidth in spectroscopy.",
  "subject": "Analytical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "homogeneous line-broadening",
    "electrical anharmonicity",
    "pressure broadening"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2021, 93, 647. 'Glossary of methods and terms used in analytical spectroscopy (IUPAC Recommendations 2019)' on page 753 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2019-0203)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/lifetime-broadening/"
}