Experimental Investigations of the Stark Effect at High Field Strengths

A short description is given of the principal methods by which Stark effect splittings in high static fields can be investigated. In a second part of the paper the present state of the experimental results on the Stark effects of Balmer lines is sketched taking into account the historical development of the "classical" studies. Finally investigations which have been carried out in this field at the Institute of Experimental Physics of Graz Technical University during recent years are briefly reviewed.