IUE absorption-line observations of the moderately and highly ionized interstellar medium toward 164 early-type stars

We present measurements of Galactic interstellar Al III, Si IV, and C IV absorption recorded in high-resolution archival ultraviolet spectra of 164 hot early-type stars observed by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite. The objects studied were drawn from the list of hot stars scheduled to be observed with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite as part of observing programs designed to investigate absorption by O VI in the Galactic disk and halo. Multiple IUE echelle-mode integrations have been combined to produce a single ultraviolet (1150-1900 Angstrom )spectrum of each star with a spectral resolution of similar to 25 km s(-1) (FWHM). Selected absorption-line profiles are presented for each star along with plots of the apparent column density per unit velocity for each line of the Al III, Si IV, and C IV doublets. We report absorption-line equivalent widths, absorption velocities, and integrated column densities based on the apparent optical depth method of examining interstellar absorption lines. We also determine column densities and Doppler parameters from single-component curve-of-growth analyses. The scientific analysis of these observations will be undertaken after the FUSE satellite produces similar measurements for absorption by interstellar O IV, Fe III, S III, and other ions.