Stochastic theory of line shape. I. Nonsecular effects in the strong-collision model

Abstract

Starting from a general stochastic-theory result in which the Hamiltonian is taken to jump at random between a number of forms, due, for example, to spin-spin or spin-lattice relaxation, we treat a model for the matrix which describes the relaxation process. In this, it is assumed that the probability of jump of the Hamiltonian from one state to another does not depend on the initial state. This simplifies calculations considerably and the result can be used to study some physical cases. A specialization of this model yields a simple closed-form expression for the line shape which is quite useful in experimental situations.