Theoretical study of wings of resonance lines of lithium and sodium perturbed by rare gases

Abstract

A new quantum mechanical method for the evaluation of intensities in the wings of allowed atomic spectral lines is reported. Mathematical and computational comparisons between classical and quantum mechanical methods are made. Wing intensities predicted from three sets of interaction potentials are compared with observed intensities for the red wing of the Li resonance line perturbed by He. Discussions of qualitative features of alkali metal–rare gas potentials and of satellite bands in the wings of the spectral lines of Li and Na perturbed by rare gases are given.