How strong is the evidence of superionization and large mass outflows in B/Be stars? 2

The theoretical spectra in the neighbourhood of the C IV and Si IV resonance lines were compared with the published observed spectra of five Be stars, V 767 Cen, o And, Θ CrB, λ Eri, and 59 Cyg. It is shown that the published determinations of large outflow velocities evidenced by a violet asymmetry of the C IV and Si IV lines, as well as the reports of superionization based on the observations of the C IV and Si IV lines, should be reconsidered in view of considerable line blending effects. In general, it is suggested that many of the puzzling features observed in the UV spectra of B/Be stars may be explained in terms of heavy blending of lines originating in the photospheres and/or subionized, slowly rotating envelopes of the underlying stars. (author) 10 figs., 38 refs