Simultaneous observation of direct and Raman-scattered OVI lines in the symbiotic nova RR Tel

Brian R. Espey, Regina E. Schulte-Ladbeck, Gerard A. Kriss, Fred Hamann, Hans M. Schmid, Joni J. Johnson

Department of Physics & Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218
Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Center for Astrophysics & Space Science, UCSD, La Jolla, CA 92093
Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories, Australian National University,
Weston Creek P.O., ACT 2611, Canberra, Australia
Department of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706

Abstract:

The optical spectra of some symbiotic binaries show two lines in the red region of the spectrum which can not be identified with any known allowed or forbidden transitions. A case has been made that these lines are Raman scattered OVI 1032, 1038 emission lines. We present simultaneous far-UV and optical spectra of the symbiotic nova RR Tel obtained with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT) and the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) during the Astro-2 space shuttle mission. These data show the first coincident detection of the strong OVI 1032, 1038 doublet and 6825, 7082 emission lines. The latter display strong linear polarization and provide new information on the structure of the nebular material. Our observations provide strong evidence for the Raman effect in RR Tel.

Subject headings: atomic processes -- binaries: symbiotic -- stars: individual (RR Tel) -- ultraviolet: stars



espey@pha.jhu.edu