The anomalous C IV intensity ratio in symbiotic stars
Abstract
The C IV lambda lambda 1548.2,1550.8 resonance doublet in a symbiotic stars was shown to exhibit anomalous line intensity ratios in which I (lambda 1548.2)/I(lambda 1550.8) less than 1, or less than the optically-thick limit of unity. The R Aquarii-central HII region and RX Puppis exhibit this phenomena. The I(lambda 1548.2)/I(lambda 1550.8) ratio in RX Puppis is found to vary inversely with the total C IV line intensity, and with the FES-visual light, as the object declined over a 5 yr period following a brightening in UV and optical emission which peaked in 1982. This doublet intensity behavior could be explained by a wind which has a narrow velocity range of 600 approx. less thanv wind approx. less than 1000 km/sec, or by the pumping of the Fe II (mul. 45.01) transition a4 F9/2 - y4 H(o)11/2 by C IV lambda 1548.2, which effectively scatters C IV photons into the Fe II spectrum in these objects.
- Publication:
-
ESA Special Publication
- Pub Date:
- June 1988
- Bibcode:
- 1988ESASP.281a.385M
- Keywords:
-
- Atomic Spectra;
- Carbon;
- Iue;
- Spaceborne Astronomy;
- Symbiotic Stars;
- Ultraviolet Astronomy;
- Ultraviolet Spectra;
- Stellar Spectra;
- Stellar Winds;
- Astronomy