In: Physics
Doppler spectral line broadening is caused by the fact that the velocity of atoms or molecules relative to the observer follows a Maxwell distribution. The effect is dependent on temperature. Hence it serves as a thermometer to determine the temperature of hot gases, such as in distant stars as well as the relative motion of the light source (away or approaching) the Earth observer. Derive the distribution of the intensity of spectral line and show how the line width is related to the temperature.