The standard static-ion impact electron theory of line broadening is assessed with a calculation of the He II $P_{\alpha }$ line over a broad range of plasma conditions. Ion dynamics, an improved electron collision operator, and accurate atomic physics are included in the computation. Simulations also have been performed to validate effects included in the calculation at higher densities. Calculated linewidths are compared with experiment over more than two decades in electron density, and broad agreement is found. This provides the first critical evaluation of the assumptions of Stark broadening theory. The profiles also display the first unambiguous evidence of ion dynamics.

White dwarfs with magnetic field strengths larger than 10 T are understood to represent more than 10% of the total population of white dwarfs. The presence of such strong magnetic fields is clearly indicated by the Zeeman triplet structure visible on absorption lines. In this work, we discuss the line broadening mechanisms and focus on the sensitivity of hydrogen lines on the magnetic field. We perform new calculations in conditions relevant to magnetized DA stellar atmospheres using models inspired from magnetic fusion plasma spectroscopy. A white dwarf spectrum from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) database is analyzed. An effective temperature is provided by an adjustment of the background radiation with a Planck function, and the magnetic field is inferred from absorption lines presenting a Zeeman triplet structure. An order-of-magnitude estimate for the electron density is also performed from Stark broadening analysis.

In plasmas subject to a strong magnetic field, the dynamical properties of the microfield are affected by the cyclotron motion, which can alter Stark-broadened lines. We illustrate this effect through calculations of the hydrogen Lyman $\alpha$ line in an ideal one-component plasma. A focus is put on the central Zeeman component. It is shown that the atomic dipole autocorrelation function decreases more slowly if the cyclotron motion is retained. In the frequency domain, this denotes a reduction of the line broadening. A discussion based on numerical simulations and analytical estimates is done.

The transport of neutral particles in turbulent plasmas is addressed from the prospect of developing coarse-grained transport models which can be implemented in code suites like B2-EIRENE, currently used for designing the ITER divertor. The statistical properties of turbulent fluctuations are described by a multivariate Gamma distribution able to retain space and time correlations through a proper choice of covariance function. We show that in the scattering free case, relevant for molecules and impurity atoms, the average neutral particle density obeys a Boltzmann equation with an ionization rate renormalized by fluctuations. This result lends itself to a straightforward implementation in the EIRENE Monte Carlo solver for neutral particles. Special emphasis is put on the inclusion of time correlations, and in particular on the ballistic motion of coherent turbulent structures. The role of these time dependent effects is discussed for D₂ molecules and beryllium atoms. The sensitivity of our results to the assumptions on the statistical properties of fluctuations is investigated.

The nonlinear interaction of waves can change the structural and radiative properties of plasmas. We describe the main features of a fully ionized unmagnetized plasma affected by strong Langmuir turbulence characterized by nonlinear wave collapse, and propose a simple model for evaluating the changes expected on a hydrogen line shape affected by such conditions. Our model is based on a stochastic renewal model using an exponential waiting time distribution and a half-normal probability density function for the electric-field magnitude of the turbulent wave packet. The first results obtained with a simulation calculation of the hydrogen line show that strong Langmuir turbulence can provide an additional broadening to a Stark profile.

In weakly coupled plasmas, it is common to describe the microfield using a Debye model. We examine here an “artificial” ideal one-component plasma with an infinite Debye length, which has been used for the test of line shape codes. We show that the infinite Debye length assumption can lead to a misinterpretation of numerical simulations results, in particular regarding the convergence of calculations. Our discussion is done within an analytical collision operator model developed for hydrogen line shapes in near-impact regimes. When properly employed, this model can serve as a reference for testing the convergence of simulations.