P Cygni and related profiles in the ultraviolet spectra of O-stars.

Abstract

P Cygni and related profiles of the resonance lines of N V, Si IV and C IV ions are studied over a sample of 40 O-stars observed with IUE in the high resolution mode. The sample includes subdwarf stars, high luminosity population II objects, stars which are not recognized members of open clusters and/or associations, and stars which are members. The profiles give information on the ionization structure of the expanding stellar atmosphere and on the velocity fields. The large variety of these profiles and the wide range of observed velocities allow a look to be taken at the largely unexplored field of stellar individuality.