Variability of C III and Si III lines in the ultraviolet spectral region of the magnetic Bp star a Centauri

TL;DR

This study analyzes ultraviolet spectral lines of C III and Si III in the magnetic Bp star a Centauri, revealing significant flux variability at 1300 Å correlated with helium line variations, based on archival IUE data.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of the variability of specific ultraviolet lines of C III and Si III in a Centauri using archival IUE data.

Findings

Flux at 1300 Å varies significantly with ~0.2 mag amplitude.

Flux at 1775.5 Å shows no significant variability.

Variability at 1300 Å is in anti-phase with helium lines.

Abstract

The variability of twice ionized lines of carbon and silicon in the ultraviolet spectral region of the magnetic Bp star a Centauri is investigated. This study is based on the archival {\it International Ultraviolet Explorer} data obtained through the large aperture and in the low-dispersion mode. A comparison of the average {\iue} high-dispersion spectrum of a Cen with full synthetic spectrum as well as those including only lines of one element showed that six C III and six Si III lines are responsible for the depressions of the flux at $\lambda\lambda$ 1175.5 and 1300\AA, respectively. Investigation of the variability of flux in the core of depression at $\lambda$ 1775.5 \AA\ indicate that the fluxes do not vary within errors of measurements. On the other hand, the fluxes in the core of depression at $\lambda$ 1300 \AA\ varies significantly with amplitude of $\sim$0.2 mag. Moreover, the variability of this depression are in anti-phase with helium lines in the visual spectral region.