Abstract
The pressure-narrowing theory of Galatry is applied to the calculations of equivalent widths of lines in the quadrupole rotation–vibration spectrum of molecular hydrogen. The theory leads to agreement with the measurements of Rank and associates. A value for the pressure-broadening coefficient of 0.0015 cm−1/atm at 300 K is obtained for the 1–0 S(1) line. The application of the results to the hydrogen abundance on Jupiter is briefly considered.