IUE observations of HR 6902 - Effect of luminosity on supergiant chromospheres

IUE observations of the most recently discovered Zeta Aurigae system, HR 6902, are reported to reveal profound differences in the spectrum of the chromosphere of the cool primary from those of all other Zeta Aurigae systems. Unlike its sister systems, HR 6902 shows evidence of neither strong wind nor an extended chromosphere for the cool primary. Instead, the spectrum is like that of a single blue dwarf. The most likely reason for this contrast to all other Zeta Aur systems observed with IUE is the lower luminosity of the HR 6902 primary: a type-II 'bright giant' as opposed to the type I (or Ib-II in the case of 22 Vul) 'supergiants' in the other Zeta Aur systems.