Nature of Fe II fluorescent lines in Luminous Blue Variables

Luminous blue variables (LBVs) are massive evolved stars that show unpredictable photometric and spectral variation. It is generally assumed that they undergo one or more of large eruptions. We have obtained high dispersion NIR spectra of several LBVs with Immersion GRating INfrared Spectrometer (IGRINS). One notable feature in their IGRINS spectra is the existence of broad lines (~ a few hundred km/s) with unusual boxy profile. They are fluorescent lines of Fe II by Lyman α photons in the stellar wind. However, modeling of these lines with radiative transfer code CMFGEN predicts much weaker line strength. We propose that incorporating broadening of Lyman α line by scattering processes in dense wind can enhance the Fe II fluorescent lines. We further discuss how these Fe II fluorescent lines can be used to characterize massive LBV wind.