Line broadening

Line broadening refers to the spreading out of spectral lines—specific colors or wavelengths of light emitted or absorbed by atoms—in a spectrum. Instead of appearing as sharp, precise lines, they become wider due to various effects such as the movement of atoms (Doppler broadening), interactions with other particles (collisional or pressure broadening), or natural quantum uncertainty. This broadening provides valuable information about the physical conditions, like temperature and density, of the source emitting the light. In essence, line broadening reveals details about the environment where the light originates by analyzing how the spectral lines are spread out.