Spectroscopy of T tauri stars with UVES - Observations and analysis of RU lup

We present the first results of our observations of classical T Tauri Stars with UVES/VLT. The data consists of high signal-to-noise (greater than or equal to 150) and high spectral resolution (R similar to 60 000) spectra. A large simultaneous wavelength coverage throughout most of the visible spectrum and comparatively short integration times allow us to study variability on short time-scales, using a number of diagnostics reflecting a wide range of physical processes. In particular we concentrate on the properties and geometry of the accretion process in the strongly accreting and highly variable CTTS RU Lup. We use the evolution of the level of veiling, the shapes of absorption and emission lines, and correlations between these diagnostics, to make new measurements of the fundamental stellar parameters as well as constraints on the accretion process and its geometry. We also derive the shortest time-scale of incoherent changes, which has implications for the nature of the accretion process in RU Lup.