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B.P. Wakker (University of Wisconsin), J.C. Howk (Johns Hopkins University), Y.-H. Chu (University of Illinois)
We report on STIS and FUSE observations of the superbubble N51D in the LMC. This superbubble has a diameter of about 100 pc, and diffuse X-ray emission was previously detected. Four stars were observed: Sk-67 101, Sk-67 104, Sk-67 106 and Sk-67 107. These stars sample the center, the middle and the edge of the superbubble. Absorption by highly ionized atoms (OVI, NV, CIV and SiIV) is seen in all four stars. Both the strength and velocity of these ions clearly differ in the four stars. NV is strongest near the edge, suggesting that it is distributed in a shell, rather than filling the volume. Absorptions of one or more lower ionization or excited stages are also found for many ions (e.g. CII*, NI, NII, SiII, SiII*, SiIII, PII, SII, SIII, ArI, FeII), and possibly molecular hydrogen. This allows an analysis of the neutral and molecular material surrounding the superbubble and the radiation field in which it is embedded.