Stark broadening theories and calculations have been extensively developed for about 50
years. The theory can now be considered as mature for many applications, especially for
accurate spectroscopic diagnostics and modelling. This requires the knowledge of numerous
collisional line profiles, especially for very low abundant atoms and ions which are used
as probes for modern spectroscopic diagnostics in astrophysics. Nowadays, the access to
such data via an on line database becomes essential. STARK-B (http://stark-b.obspm.fr) is a collaborative project between the Astronomical
Observatory of Belgrade and the Laboratoire d’Étude du Rayonnement et de la matière en
Astrophysique (LERMA). It is a database of calculated widths and shifts of isolated lines
of atoms and ions due to electron and ion collisions (impacts). It is devoted to modelling
and spectroscopic diagnostics of stellar atmospheres and envelopes, laboratory plasmas,
laser equipments and technological plasmas. Hence, the domain of temperatures and
densities covered by the tables is wide and depends on the ionization degree of the
considered ion. The STARK-B database is a part of VAMDC (Virtual Atomic and Molecular Data
Centre, http://www.vamdc.eu), which is an European Union funded collaboration
between groups involved in the generation and use of atomic and molecular data. VAMDC aims
to build a secure, documented, flexible and interoperable e-science environment-based
interface to existing atomic and molecular data.