Astron. Astrophys. 364, 646-654 (2000)

The Fe II excitation mechanism in KQ Puppis

A. Redfors ¹ and S.G. Johansson <sup>2

1</sup> Kristianstad University, 291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden
² Lund University, Physics Department, Atomic Spectroscopy, Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden

Received 23 June 2000 / Accepted 22 September 2000

Abstract

We discuss different excitation processes behind the Fe II emission lines in the IUE spectrum of KQ Puppis (Boss 1985), a VV Cephei type of spectroscopic binary. Several papers have been published on the subject suggesting a number of processes behind the strong Fe II emission lines. We propose that there are two processes operating: selective photoexcitation by continuum radiation (PCR) from the B-star companion, and photoexcitation by accidental resonance (PAR) by the H Ly radiation field. We suggest excitation channels for each of the Fe II emission lines identified in the spectrum.

Key words: atomic data atomic processes stars: binaries: spectroscopic stars: individual: KQ Puppis

Send offprint requests to: A. Redfors

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Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. The observations
• 3. The Fe II spectrum
  • 3.1. Comments on earlier work
• 4. Summary
• Acknowledgements
• References

© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 2000

Online publication: January 29, 2001
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