Collisions of the emitting or absorbing particle with other particles cause collisional
broadening as well as collisional shift of the spectral line. When collisions occur
between unlike, neutral particles the term foreign-gas broadening is used, or van
der Waals' broadening when both collision partners are neutral. When the colliding
particles are of the same species, the term
resonance broadening is employed. The term Lorentz broadening was previously used for neutral
particle collision broadening, and Holtsmark broadening for cases of van der Waals'
broadening when collisions took place with like particles. Both terms are now discouraged.
Stark broadening refers to collisions with charged particles or particles with a strong
permanent electrical
dipole moment. Whereas a strong chaotic electrical field causes Stark broadening, an applied static
electrical field induces a Stark shift.
Source:
PAC, 1985, 57, 1453
(Nomenclature, symbols, units and their usage in spectrochemical analysis - V: Radiation
sources (Recommendations 1985))
on page 1463