HIGH-VELOCITY SPECTRAL FEATURES IN V854 CENTAURI - EVIDENCE FOR DUST FORMATION

Low-dispersion IUE spectra of V854 Cen show apparent shifts or splitti ng in the lambda2325 C II], lambda2800 Mg II, A2851 Mg I and LAMBDA296 5 C I lines which, if kinematic, indicate velocities in excess of 1000 km s-1. The variations are seen in all the UV emission lines simultan eously. The line splitting seems to occur at times near phase 0.0 (max imum light) of the pulsation cycle of the star. Dust formation episode s in V854 Cen also occur at this phase. New high-dispersion spectra of V854 Cen of the Na I D lines show many high-velocity features, both r ed- and blueshifted, including one at almost - 400 km s-1. The line pr ofile variations may be a spectral signature of the gas from which the dust is condensing.