Intensity changes in the UV spectrum of Beta Cephei

Fifty eight short wavelength International Ultraviolet Explorer spectra were taken over a 152 day period. Variations in the absorption lines of C IV (1550 A), Si IV (1393 and 1404 A) and N V (1239 and 1243 A) and a Cr III feature (1208 to 1211 A) were observed. A data reduction technique was developed in order to compare the changes in the equivalent widths of these absorption lines. Periods were determined by least squares fit to a sinusoid using several combinations of the data. In one case eighteen spectra for each ion taken at approximately one day intervals were used; in another, all 58 measurements of each were used; and in a third all measurements from all the ions wee combined. Using both variable metric and interactive algorithms it was determined that for all combinations mentioned a period of 6.10 + or - .06 days is the best fit to the vector of equivalent widths versus time. No other period, with or without the 6.10 day period removed from the data, was found. Analysis of the Cr III feature near 1210 A gives the same period as the others, but in antiphase.