# The D/H Ratio in Interstellar Gas Towards G191-B2BBased on observations done with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc. under NASA contract NAS5-26555

## 1 Introduction

The best post-IUE measurement of the D/H ratio in the LISM within $``$100 pc has been the HST-GHRS study by Linsky et al. (L93 & L95), who found D/H = 1.6 $`\pm `$ 0.2$`\times `$ 10<sup>-5</sup> towards Capella, a nearby late-type spectroscopic binary system \[$`d`$ = 12.5 pc; ($`l`$,$`b`$) = (162.6, $`+`$4.6)\]. Subsequent GHRS measurements towards other nearby late-type stars and WDs, reported by various authors indicate that within measurement uncertainties, the D/H ratio in the LISM is constant and the value is consistent with Linsky et al.’s results (Landsman et al. 1996, Piskunov et al. 1997, Dring et al. 1998). Only one result suggests significant variation of the D/H ratio within 69 pc. Using GHRS echelle data, VM98 reported the presence of three velocity components towards the white dwarf G191-B2B, with D/H ratios ranging between 0.9$`\times `$10<sup>-5</sup> and 1.56$`\times `$10<sup>-5</sup> implying a variation of the D/H ratio by $``$ 30% in the LISM. Towards the more distant star $`\delta `$Ori A ($`d`$ $``$ 350 pc), however, Interstellar Medium Absorption Profile Spectrograph (IMAPS) observations by Jenkins et al. (1999), suggest spatial variations of the D/H ratio. Current models of Galactic chemical evolution predict variations in the D/H ratio over length scales of $``$ 1 kpc (e.g. Tosi, 1998) but not over length scales as short as 69 pc. Possible implications of the spatial variation of the D/H ratio over such short length scales include a non-primordial source of deuterium production (Mullan & Linsky 1998). We have reinvestigated the question of spatial variation of the D/H ratio towards G191-B2B, using newer HST-Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) data. Compared to the GHRS echelle data, the STIS data have better scattered light corrections and include lines such as Si ii ($`\lambda `$$`\lambda `$1190, 1193, 1260 and 1526) and Fe ii $`\lambda `$1608.5 which were not observed with GHRS. In this Letter, we report the D/H ratio derived from STIS data and the disagreement between the D/H ratios derived from STIS and GHRS data . The most probable reason for this disagreement is the inadequate scattered light corrections available for the GHRS data ($`\mathrm{\S }`$6). An extended analysis of the STIS and GHRS data will be presented elsewhere.

## 2 Observations and data reduction

G191-B2B was observed with STIS on 1998 December 17 using the high-resolution E140H (R$``$110,000) mode in the $``$ 1140 to 1700Å region. These observations were part of STIS flux calibrations and the entrance aperture used was 0.2 $`\times `$ 0.2 arcsec. The use of this aperture decreases the effective spectral resolution, particularly in the bluer wavelength regions near the Lyman-$`\alpha `$ region (where the telescope PSF halo is more pronounced). The spectra were processed with the IDL-based CALSTIS reduction package developed by the STIS Instrument Development Team (IDT) at Goddard Space Flight Center (Lindler 1999). There was appreciable scattered light in the Lyman-$`\alpha `$ region ($``$ 11% of the continuum at 1213Å) which was corrected using an iterative correction algorithm developed by the STIS IDT (Bowers & Lindler 1999, in preparation). This algorithm models several sources of stray light including the telescope PSF halo, echelle grating scatter and the detector halo. Archival GHRS echelle data of the G191-B2B (observed 1995 July 26 to 28) were reduced using the IDL-based CALHRS routine developed by the GHRS IDT at Goddard. Three individual GHRS FP-SPLIT exposures are combined to obtain the final spectrum containing the D i and H i interstellar lines. The core of the saturated Lyman-$`\alpha `$ absorption dips below zero flux and was corrected by setting the inter-order coefficients $`a`$ and $`b`$ at 0.9 (Cardelli et al. 1993). Near the D i feature, the S/N per data point in the continuum for both GHRS and STIS is $``$ 20, although GHRS has better wavelength sampling (0.003Å versus 0.005Å for STIS).

## 3 Use of NLTE stellar atmosphere models

To disentangle the interstellar D i and H i absorption from the observed profiles, it is essential to use the most physically realistic model for the intrinsic stellar Lyman-$`\alpha `$ profile. G191-B2B \[$`d`$ = 68.8 pc; ($`l`$,$`b`$) = (155.9, $`+`$7.1)\] (Vauclair et al. 1997), belongs to a class of hot, DA WDs that contain significant amounts of heavy elements such as C, N, O, Si, Fe and Ni in their atmospheres. Lanz et al. (1996) performed NLTE calculations including the effects of line-blanketing from more than 9 $`\times `$ 10<sup>6</sup> atomic transitions (mainly Fe and Ni) and matched the flux level and shape of the EUV spectrum of G191-B2B for the first time. The apparent effective temperature of WDs like G191-B2B is sensitive to assumptions about the photospheric composition (Barstow et al. 1998) and must be taken into account in modeling the stellar Lyman-$`\alpha `$ profile. Barstow and co-workers (in preparation) have refined their stratified line-blanketed NLTE calculations (Barstow et al. 1999) and the best-fit model atmosphere \[T<sub>eff</sub> = 54,000 $`\pm `$ 2000 K and log $`g`$ = 7.5$`\pm `$ 0.03\] is adopted in our analysis to predict the intrinsic WD Lyman-$`\alpha `$ profile and to check for contamination of the interstellar lines by narrow WD absorption lines. The radial velocity of G191-B2B used in our analysis, estimated from STIS data of other WD lines (Bruhweiler et al. 1999, in preparation) is 24.6 $`\pm `$ 0.4 km s<sup>-1</sup> (including gravitational redshift).

## 4 The number of velocity components in the line-of-sight

In addition to the interstellar D i and H i absorption lines, the STIS echelle spectra show interstellar absorption due to N i ($`\lambda `$$`\lambda `$1199.5, 1200.2 and 1200.7), C ii $`\lambda `$1334.5, C ii $`\lambda `$1335.7, O i $`\lambda `$1302, Si ii ($`\lambda `$$`\lambda `$1190, 1193, 1260, 1304 and 1526), Si iii $`\lambda `$1206.5, Al ii $`\lambda `$1670.8, S ii $`\lambda `$1259.5 and Fe ii $`\lambda `$1608.5. The interstellar N i $`\lambda `$1200.7, Si ii $`\lambda `$$`\lambda `$ 1193 & 1304 and Fe ii lines are not contaminated by WD lines. Figure 1 (a, b) shows the profile fits to the N i $`\lambda `$ 1200.7 and Si ii $`\lambda `$ 1304 lines and two distinct velocity components are seen in these uncontaminated lines (all velocities are in the heliocentric frame). One component is at $``$ 8.6 km s<sup>-1</sup> (hereafter referred to as comp 1). The other component is at 19.3 km s<sup>-1</sup>, which is within measurement uncertainties of the projected velocity of the LIC (20.3 km s<sup>-1</sup>) in the line-of-sight to G191-B2B (Lallement et al. 1995). This component is also seen in the Capella data (L93), suggesting both the G191-B2B and Capella sightlines intercept the LIC. Figure 1c shows the STIS and GHRS Si iii 1206.5 Å line utilized by VM98 to determine the number of components in the line-of-sight towards G191-B2B. Our GHRS profile is shifted to lower velocities by $``$ 4 km s<sup>-1</sup> compared to the profile in the top panel of Figure 5 in VM98. Unlike VM98, we are able to obtain an excellent fit to both the STIS and GHRS profiles of Si iii using only these two components. Detailed profile fitting of the other interstellar species confirmed that no more than two components are required (within the constraints imposed by S/N and spectral resolution of the STIS data) to yield acceptable fits. Our analysis of the STIS and GHRS data explicitly assumes the existence of two distinct components.

## 5 Profile fitting of the interstellar D i and H i lines

Each component is assumed to be homogeneous and characterized by a column density $`N`$, radial velocity $`v`$ and a line-of-sight velocity dispersion defined by $`b`$ = (2kT/$`m`$ \+ $`\xi `$<sup>2</sup>)<sup>1/2</sup> where $`\xi `$ is the turbulent velocity parameter along the line-of-sight, T is the kinetic temperature and $`m`$ is the ion mass. The D i and H i interstellar lines were fit simultaneously since they are separated by only 0.33Å and the D i absorption is located on the wing of the broad H i absorption. Line profiles were convolved with either the STIS instrumental LSF for the 0.2 $`\times `$ 0.2 arcsec slit given by the STIS Handbook (Sahu 1999) or the two-component Gaussian LSF for GHRS given by Spitzer & Fitzpatrick (1993). The turbulent velocity parameters for the two components were determined by plotting the $`b`$ values for the various atomic species as a function of ion mass $`m`$ and performing a least-squares fit. The best-fit $`\xi `$ value for the LIC component is 1.7 km s<sup>-1</sup> (consistent with L93, L95) while for comp 1, $`\xi `$ is 2.5 km s<sup>-1</sup>. The STIS spectra near the Fe ii (the heaviest ion) absorption have low S/N and the $`\xi `$ value is probably not very accurate. However, the derived column densities are insensitive to the assumed values of $`\xi `$, and the D/H ratios presented here are not affected. For modeling of the Lyman-$`\alpha `$ profile, the velocities of the two components are kept fixed at 8.6 (comp 1) and 19.3 km s<sup>-1</sup> (LIC) and the $`\xi `$ values are fixed at 1.7 (LIC) and 2.5 km s<sup>-1</sup> (comp 1). Two types of profile fits are done for the STIS and GHRS data sets: (1) keeping the value of D/H free in both components (STIS-FREE, GHRS-FREE) and (2) forcing the same value of D/H in both components (STIS-FIXED and GHRS-FIXED). Table 1 lists the results of the profile fitting for the STIS and GHRS data sets. The parameters obtained for the two components are the H i column density, N(H i), the temperature derived from the H i thermal velocity dispersion and the D/H ratio (listed for comp 1 and the LIC component respectively in columns 4 through 9). The uncertainties quoted for the D/H ratios denote the 2$`\sigma `$ (95%) confidence limits obtained using the method of constant $`\chi `$<sup>2</sup> boundaries (Press et al. 1992). Figure 2 (a, b) shows the best-fit models to the STIS and GHRS data for the STIS-FREE and GHRS-FREE cases respectively. The total H i column density towards G191-B2B obtained from the STIS data is $``$2.04$`\times `$10<sup>18</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup>, consistent with the value of 2.05$`\times `$10<sup>18</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup> derived from the best-fit parameters to the EUVE data over the wavelength range 100 to 500Å (Barstow et al. 1999). The D/H ratios derived for the two components from the STIS and GHRS data clearly disagree (compare STIS-FREE and GHRS-FREE cases in Table 1).

## 6 Why do STIS and GHRS data give different values of the D/H ratios?

Figure 3 compares the STIS and GHRS spectra in the region of the D i absorption. Note that the D i absorption in the GHRS spectrum is shallower than in the STIS spectrum. The difference in the derived D/H values is unlikely to be due to statistical fluctuations. For example, a value of D/H = 1.35 $`\times 10^5`$ in both components is 3$`\sigma `$ above the best-fit determination from the GHRS-FIXED fit, and 3$`\sigma `$ below the best-fit determination from the STIS-FIXED fit. Another unlikely possibility for the difference in two data sets is time variability in the observed profile near the D i feature, perhaps due to a stellar wind. While Barstow et al. (1999) do suggest the presence of a weak stellar wind in G191-B2B to maintain the stratification of the Fe abundances, they point out that the wind must be less than $`10^{16}`$ M/yr to avoid elimination of the heavy elements in the photosphere. Such a weak wind would not be detectable, even in Lyman-$`\alpha `$. The most probable cause is a systematic error in one of the data sets and two lines of evidence suggest that this error is more likely to be in the GHRS data. First, whereas $`\chi ^2`$/$`\nu `$ value of 1.065 for the model fit to the STIS data indicates a 16% probability that the model is correct and that the uncertainties are correctly estimated, the $`\chi ^2`$/$`\nu `$ value of 1.200 for the GHRS data indicates only a 0.01% probability of this being true. Second, when the D/H ratio is kept fixed in both components (STIS-FIXED and GHRS-FIXED), the D/H ratios derived with the STIS data (1.71$`\pm `$$`\stackrel{0.32}{_{0.24}}`$$`\times `$10<sup>-5</sup>) are consistent with the value of 1.5$`\pm `$0.1$`\times `$10<sup>-5</sup> determined for the LIC by Linsky (1998). The corresponding value derived for the GHRS data (1.17$`\pm `$$`\stackrel{0.12}{_{0.11}}`$$`\times `$10<sup>-5</sup>) is not consistent with observed LIC values. Fixed-pattern noise or wavelength drifts during FP-SPLIT subexposures in the GHRS data set could result in a shallower D i absorption. However, the observed scatter in the flux level among the 144 subexposures (comprising the three FP-SPLIT GHRS exposures), shows good agreement with the errors predicted by the CALHRS routine, making this possibility unlikely. We believe the most probable cause for the difference in the two data sets around the D i absorption is the characterization of the background due to scattered light in the GHRS and STIS spectrographs. The D i line located on the wing of the H i profile, almost reaches zero flux in the core and is sensitive to the background subtraction procedures employed. The two-dimensional MAMA detectors and smaller pixel sizes on STIS allow a better estimate of the wavelength and spatial dependence of scattered light than the one-dimensional GHRS digicon science diodes. After the scattered light correction was applied to the STIS data, the residual flux in the core of the saturated H i profile is less than 1% of the continuum flux at 1213 Å. The GHRS observations were done with the default STEP-PATT option, where the background is measured with the science diodes for only 6% of the total exposure time (Soderblom 1995). Due to the low S/N of this background measurement, only a low-order polynomial fit can be made to the background variations (Cardelli et al. 1990). Use of the standard values of the four echelle scatter correction coefficients recommended by Cardelli et al. (1993) yields a significant ($``$ 8% of the continuum flux at 1213 Å) oversubtraction in the core of the saturated H i profile (see Fig 1, VM98). We corrected for this by multiplying the background by 0.9 prior to subtraction ($`\mathrm{\S }`$2), but if there are significant variations in the background with wavelength, this ad hoc correction is inadequate. Most previous D/H ratios derived with GHRS have used late-type stars as the background sources and these emission-line sources should have a much less significant scattered light problem. Given the importance of the question of spatial variations of the D/H ratio in the LISM, future STIS observations of G191-B2B with a smaller aperture (to achieve higher wavelength resolution), would be valuable.

This research was supported by a GTO grant to the STIS IDT. MAB acknowledges support from PPARC, UK. We are grateful to Jeff Linsky, the referee, for insightful and helpful comments.