Far-ultraviolet fluorescence of carbon monoxide in the red giant Arcturus

Journal Article · Tue Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/183642· OSTI ID:5947239

Ayres, T R; Moos, H W; Linsky, J L

We present evidence that many of the weak features observed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) in the far-ultraviolet (1150--2000 A) spectrum of the archetype red giant Arcturus (K2 III) are A--X fourth positive bands of carbon monoxide excited by chromospheric emissions of O I, C I, and H I. The appearance of fluorescent CO bands near the wavelengths of commonly used indicators of high-temperature (T>2 x 10/sup 4/ K) plasma, such as C II lambda1335 and C IV lambda1548, introduces a serious ambiguity in diagnosing the presence of hot material in the outer atmospheres of the cool giants by means of low-dispersion IUE spectra.

• Research Organization: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
• OSTI ID: 5947239
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States) Vol. 248:3; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
COSMOCHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FLUORESCENCE
GIANT STARS
HYDROGEN
LUMINESCENCE
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RED GIANT STARS
SPECTRA
STARS
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA