Some Common Problems and Challenges that Emission-Line Stars Present

Abstract

Four examples are given of problems that arise in the study of emission-line stars, each of which deserves further quantitative study. (1) Archival slit spectra of ηCar show that epochs of low excitation have occurred regularly in the 2020 day period of Damineli et al. since at least 1948. They last about 10 percent of the period. Earlier slit spectra (1899 -1919) suggest that the the object was always in a low excitation state at that time. This result may be connected with the gradual brightening of eta Car through most of the 20th century. (2) FeII and [FeII] emission in Mira variables is probably chromospheric. It would be important to understand how this is excited and its relation to mass loss and dust formation in Miras. (3) Declines of RCB stars are due to eclipses by dust clouds. At such times a rich emission line spectrum from the outer atmosphere of the star is seen. The quantitative study of the changes in this spectrum as more and more of the star is eclipsed should yield important information on the extended atmosphere of these objects. (4) In deep minima when the entire star is eclipsed, RCB stars show a broad-line emission spectrum. The excitation of this spectrum, particularly HeI 3888A, constitutes a puzzle. Two possible excitation mechanisms are discussed.