Doppler Broadening

Doppler broadening refers to the widening of spectral lines in light emitted by atoms or molecules due to their motion. When these particles move toward or away from an observer, the light waves they emit are compressed or stretched, similar to the pitch change of a passing siren. This movement causes variations in the observed wavelength, resulting in a broader range of colors (or frequencies) being detected. This phenomenon is significant in fields like astronomy and spectroscopy, where it helps scientists understand the speed and temperature of celestial objects or particles in a gas.