Multi-epoch optical velocities of bright carbon stars

We present cross-correlated optical radial velocities of 87 bright carbon stars, 67 with two or more observations. The data were taken with the Hamilton Echelle spectrograph at the Coude focus of the 3 m telescope at Lick Observatory. In addition, we measured the velocities of individual atomic transitions, K I (7698.96 A), Li I (6707.84 A), and Mg I (5183.61 A), present in every star in the sample. Comparing changes in Miras, SR, and Lb variables, we find (1) the velocity dispersion among atomic lines is much greater in Miras than in SR and Lb stars, and (2) atomic absorption line and cross-correlated optical velocities in Miras come together near photometric minimum and then spread out near maximum light, whereas the fluctuations in SR velocities are much smaller and not as obviously correlated with phase