VLT-UVES observations of the Balmer line variations of eta Carinae during the 2003 spectroscopic event

Details VLT-UVES observations of the Balmer line variations of eta Carinae during the 2003 spectroscopic event VLT-UVES observations of the Balmer line variations of eta Carinae during the 2003 spectroscopic event

2004-12-17

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0412453v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

11 pages, 8 figures, to appear in AJ March issue, paper with images in full resolution at http://www.astro.rub.de/kweis/public

Scientific paper

10.1086/428005

We present high spectral resolution echelle observations of the Balmer line variations during the 2003.5 ``spectroscopic event'' of eta Carinae. Spectra have been recorded of both eta Carinae and the Homunculus at the FOS4 position in its SE lobe. This spot shows a reflected stellar spectrum which is less contaminated by nebular emission lines than ground-based observations of the central object itself. Our observations show that the spectroscopic event is much less pronounced at this position than when seen directly on eta Car using HST/STIS. Assuming that the reflected spectrum is indeed latitude dependent this indicates that the spectral changes during the event seen pole-on (FOS4) are different from those closer to the equator (directly on the star). In contrast to the spectrum of the star, the scattered spectrum of FOS4 always shows pronounced P Cygni absorption with little variation across the ``spectroscopic event''. After that event an additional high-velocity absorption component appears. The emission profile is more peaked at FOS4 and consists of at least 3 distinct components, of which the reddest one shows the strongest changes through the event. The data seem to be compatible with changes in latitudinal wind structure of a single star, with or without the help of a secondary star, or the onset of a shell ejection during the spectroscopic event.

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