Resonance-line transfer with partial redistribution. VIII - Solution in the comoving frame for moving atmospheres

The effects of partial frequency redistribution in the scattering process for lines formed in moving atmospheres are analyzed using a general method that allows the transfer equation to be solved in the comoving frame of the gas. The same chromospheric and atomic model studied by Cannon and Vardavas (1974) is employed in the calculations, but a depth scale with logarithmically spaced points is adopted. It is found that in both static and moving atmospheres, the profiles obtained with complete and partial frequency redistribution are virtually identical. The large differences in profiles obtained by Cannon and Vardavas when they used complete and partial redistribution are shown to be spurious (and physically unreal) effects resulting from angle averaging in the observer's frame instead of the comoving frame.