Ultraviolet Spectral Analyses of HgMn Stars

Abstract

Almost a decade after the last observations were performed by theInternational Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite its rich archivescomprise a wealth of opportunity for the stellar astronomer, inparticular when exploring large samples of stars. We have inaugurated anexploration into the nature of chemically peculiar stars through thoseelemental abundance studies which are best carried out at UVwavelengths. The analysis of the IUE data set is benefited at this timeby improvements in data quality as instituted by IUE NEWSIPS and acoaddition procedure that we have implemented for those stars for whichmultiple spectral images exist in the IUE archives. The IUE dataanalysis is furthered by high resolution HST/GHRS and STIS spectraobtained for a few appropriate targets. The HST data allow for theproduction of spectral templates which can subsequently be applied tothe lower resolution IUE data in order to more fully understand lineblending issues. Our present studies are concentrated on thedistribution of heavy elements in the atmospheres of HgMn stars and willbe expanded to include other classes of chemical peculiarity in aneffort to understand the phenomenon of spectral line anomalies amongstars of the upper main sequence. We outline our techniques and presentabundance results for the poorly studied element gold in HgMn stars.This work was supported by a Grant from NASA's ADP Program