A program for the evaluation of electron number density from experimental hydrogen balmer beta line profiles

Abstract

A program for the determination of plasma electron number density, 10 20F(Ne )F10 23 m y3 , from the comparison of experimental and theoretical hydrogen Balmer beta (Hb) line profiles is described in detail. Three theoretical data sets (one set is calculated within the framework of this paper) are included with the program and may be selected as a user’s choice. Apart from Ne determination from the comparison of the whole experimental and theoretical profiles, this program offers a fast estimation of Ne from the halfwidth of the experimental line shape. If necessary, certain parts of the experimental profile may be neglected in the procedure of comparison with theory. This possibility enables the use of noisy line shape recordings for N e determination. The H b asymmetry study may be carried out by generating the difference between experimental and best-fitted theoretical line profiles.