We report on Stark width measurements of $2s3s$-$2s3p$ singlet and triplet transitions along the berylliumlike sequence performed in a gas-liner pinch discharge. Simultaneously with the spectroscopic measurements we have diagnosed the plasma with Thomson scattering testing theoretical scalings of the Stark broadening with density, temperature, and spectroscopic charge number $Z$. The comparison of measured Stark widths with semiclassical calculations shows that the calculated temperature scaling is consistent with the experiment. However, a systematic discrepancy of measured Stark widths from theoretically predicted $Z^{-2}$ scaling is found with increasing spectroscopic charge number $Z$.

• Received 29 December 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.57.5972