2000A&A...364..646R

We discuss different excitation processes behind the Fe II emission lines in the IUE spectrum of KQ Puppis (Boss 1985), a VV Cephei type of spectroscopic binary. Several papers have been published on the subject suggesting a number of processes behind the strong Fe II emission lines. We propose that there are two processes operating: selective photoexcitation by continuum radiation (PCR) from the B-star companion, and photoexcitation by accidental resonance (PAR) by the H Lyα radiation field. We suggest excitation channels for each of the Fe II emission lines identified in the spectrum.