Effects of Eccentric Orbit of BF Cygni on IUE and Optical Spectra

Abstract

A recent analysis of all available photometric data has resulted in a new ephemeris for BF Cyg: MIN=JD 2415058 + 756.8E. Simultaneously, optical spectra collected in 1979–1986 showed periodic changes of all emission lines (Mikolajewska 1987; Mikolajewska & lijima 1987). It is interesting that the forbidden lines of [OIII] varied in antiphase to the permitted emission lines and optical brightness.IUE spectra taken in 1979–1981 showed a strong hot continuum and high ionization resonance emission lines of NV, SilV CIV, intercombination lines of NIV], NIII], SiIII], CIII] and OIII] as well as Hell emission. The observed λ2200Å interstellar absorption band suggests E(B-V)≃0.3. Taking into account the interstellar reddening distribution in the vicinity of BF Cyg (Lucke 1978; Mikolajewska & Mikolajewski 1980), the observed extinction implies a distance d≲1.5kpc. This distance is in good agreement with the observed low value of the systemic radial velocity (∼15 km/s, Fig.1) of BF Cyg and the standard galactic rotation law. The standard extinction curve with E(B-V)=0.3 (Seaton 1979) was used for reddening correction of the spectra. The UV continuum of BF Cyg can be interpreted as a combination of a hot subdwarf (Teff≃60000K, L≃2500L⊙ for d=1.5kpc) and hydrogen bf+ff emission (Te≃10000K). The emission measure of the nebular (bf+ff) continuum varied from ∼4×1059cm−3 at maximum to ∼1059cm−3 at minimum. Assuming cosmic abundance of Si/C the observed SiIII]/CIII] line ratio implies ne≃2×l010cm−3 at the photometric maximum and ne≃3×109cm−3 at the minimum. We assume that these values are representative of the region where the bulk of the HI Balmer and intercombination line emission is produced. The ratio of NV(1240)/NIV(1720) gives Te(NV)≃11500K close to the value derived for the Balmer emission region from the UV continuum fit.