Stark-broadening simulation in hydrogen: study of the binary and complete binary collision hypotheses

The binary collision and complete binary collision approximations used in electronic Stark-broadening calculations have been analyzed by means of a computer simulation technique for the Lyman-alpha line in hydrogen. A simulation process has been developed in which three spectral profiles are simultaneously obtained, corresponding to the exact calculation and each of the two above approximations. Calculations have been performed under four different temperature and density conditions.