Fe II emission lines in Be stars : I. Empirical diagnostic of physical conditions in the circumstellar discs

Aims. The Fe II emission lines formed in the circumstellar envelopes (CE) of classical Be stars are studied in order to determine whether they are optically thin or optically thick. We also aim at deriving both average Fe II line excitation temperatures and the extent of their formation region in th...

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Autores principales: Arias, María Laura, Zorec, Juan, Cidale, Lydia Sonia, Ringuelet, Adela Emilia, Morrell, Nidia Irene, Ballereau, D.
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2006
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Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/84450
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id I19-R120-10915-84450
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Ciencias Astronómicas
Line: formation
Line: profiles
Stars: circumstellar matter
Stars: emission-line, Be
spellingShingle Ciencias Astronómicas
Line: formation
Line: profiles
Stars: circumstellar matter
Stars: emission-line, Be
Arias, María Laura
Zorec, Juan
Cidale, Lydia Sonia
Ringuelet, Adela Emilia
Morrell, Nidia Irene
Ballereau, D.
Fe II emission lines in Be stars : I. Empirical diagnostic of physical conditions in the circumstellar discs
topic_facet Ciencias Astronómicas
Line: formation
Line: profiles
Stars: circumstellar matter
Stars: emission-line, Be
description Aims. The Fe II emission lines formed in the circumstellar envelopes (CE) of classical Be stars are studied in order to determine whether they are optically thin or optically thick. We also aim at deriving both average Fe II line excitation temperatures and the extent of their formation region in the CE. Methods. We simultaneously observed several series of Fell emission lines in the λλ4230-7712 Å wavelength interval and the first members of the hydrogen Balmer series of 18 southern classical Be stars. The optical depth regime that controls the formation of the observed Fe II lines and the physical parameters of their CE formation region were studied using the empirical self-aborption-curve (SAC) method. Results. Our calculations give an average value of τ<SUB>o</SUB> = 2.4 ± 0.9 for the optical depth of the studied Fe II lines, which implies that these lines are optically thick in the CE of Be stars. Qualitative indications that Fell emission lines should be formed in circumstellar regions close to the central star are inferred from the correlations between Fe II emission line widths and V sin i. The application of the SAC method to Fe II emission lines confirms this result, which gives R<SUB>e</SUB> = 2.0R⁎ ± 0.8 for the extension of the line-forming region. The proximity of the line-forming region to the central star is also supported by the behavior of the source function of Fen II lines, which rapidly decreases with radii. This prevents the lines from being formed over extended regions and/or far from the star. Finally, the correlations of the central depression in the Balmer emission lines with V sin i are consistent with the flattened geometrical shapes of CEs.
format Articulo
Articulo
author Arias, María Laura
Zorec, Juan
Cidale, Lydia Sonia
Ringuelet, Adela Emilia
Morrell, Nidia Irene
Ballereau, D.
author_facet Arias, María Laura
Zorec, Juan
Cidale, Lydia Sonia
Ringuelet, Adela Emilia
Morrell, Nidia Irene
Ballereau, D.
author_sort Arias, María Laura
title Fe II emission lines in Be stars : I. Empirical diagnostic of physical conditions in the circumstellar discs
title_short Fe II emission lines in Be stars : I. Empirical diagnostic of physical conditions in the circumstellar discs
title_full Fe II emission lines in Be stars : I. Empirical diagnostic of physical conditions in the circumstellar discs
title_fullStr Fe II emission lines in Be stars : I. Empirical diagnostic of physical conditions in the circumstellar discs
title_full_unstemmed Fe II emission lines in Be stars : I. Empirical diagnostic of physical conditions in the circumstellar discs
title_sort fe ii emission lines in be stars : i. empirical diagnostic of physical conditions in the circumstellar discs
publishDate 2006
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/84450
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