Eta Carinae across the 2003.5 minimum: Spectroscopic Evidence for Massive Binary Interactions

We have analyzed high spatial, moderate spectral resolution observations of Eta Carinae obtained with the STIS from 1998.0 to 2004.3. The spectra show prominent P-Cygni lines in H I, Fe II and He I which are complicated by blends and contamination by nebular emission and absorption along the line-of-sight toward the observer. All lines show phase and species dependent variations in emission and absorption. For most of the cycle the He I emission is blueshifted relative to the H I and Fe II P-Cygni emission lines, which are approximately centered at system velocity. The blueshifted He I absorption varies in intensity and velocity throughout the 2024 day period. We construct radial velocity curves for the absorption component of the He I and H I lines. The He I absorption shows significant radial velocity variations throughout the cycle, with a rapid change of over 200 km/s near the 2003.5 event. The H I velocity curve is similar to that of the He I absorption, though offset in phase and reduced in amplitude. We interpret the complex line profile variations in He I, H I and Fe II to be a consequence of the dynamic interaction of the dense wind of Eta Car A with the less dense, faster wind plus the radiation field of a hot companion star, Eta Car B. During most of the orbit, Eta Car B and the He+ recombination zone are on the near side of Eta Car A, producing blueshifted He I emission. He I absorption is formed in the part of the He+ zone that intersects the line-of-sight toward Eta Car. We use the variations seen in He I and the other P-Cygni lines to constrain the geometry of the orbit and the character of Eta Car B.