FOURIER-TRANSFORM SPECTROSCOPY AND NEAR-INFRARED VARIABILITY OF ETA-CARINAE

We present the first Fourier Transform Spectrograph near-IR spectrum ( 0.95-2.5 mu m) of eta Car observed at CFHT in January 1987 with a reso lution of 40-100 km s(-1). We have identified lines of H I (Paschen, B rackett series), He I, Fe II, [Fe III, [N I] with complex structures. At the time of these observations eta Car was in a low excitation phas e characterized by a general weakening of the hydrogen lines, and with the He I lambda 1082.9 nm line much weaker than in 1990-91.