Line shape measurement and isolated line width calculations: Quantal versus semiclassical methods

In a recent paper Griem, Ralchencko, Bray [Phys. Rev. E 56, 7186 (1998)] perform quantum-mechanical calculations of the line width of the B III 2s-2p transition and find agreement with previous quantum-mechanical results. The quantum-mechanical widths are a factor ∼2 smaller than those measured in a recent experiment where the full width at half maximum for the B III 2s-2p transition was measured in a plasma with a measured electron temperature and density of 10 eV and 2×10¹⁸ cm^-3. The quantum-mechanical results also disagree with a nonperturbative semiclassical calculation. We will illustrate that Griem, Ralchencko, and Bray are incorrect in stating that the experimental results are in error and that the semiclassical calculations are inapplicable.