Variable Polarization of the Be Star Lambda Eridani: 1986--94

Details Variable Polarization of the Be Star Lambda Eridani: 1986--94 Variable Polarization of the Be Star Lambda Eridani: 1986--94

May 1995

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995aas...186.2211m&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, 186th AAS Meeting, #22.11; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 27, p.842

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

1

Scientific paper

Over the past nine years of polarimetric monitoring, we have found a close correlation between the V-band linear polarization and the reported Hα and He I lambda 6678 emission strength of the highly variable B2e star lambda Eri. Frueh recorded a large increase in polarization during the major outburst of 1987--88 (Smith, Peters, and Grady 1991, ApJ 367, 302). A smaller increase occurred during the minor episode of 1988--89, and there was almost no polarization at all during the ``quiescent'' phase of 1990--91. The 1992--93 outburst (Kambe et al. 1993, PASP 105, 1222) went undocumented because of bad weather, but in 1994 came the highest polarization for the entire period, corresponding to the strongest emission outburst (Stefl, IAUC 6098). In a plot of the normalized Stokes parameters the data points lie nearly along a straight line through the origin, showing that the intrinsic polarization of lambda Eri has a constant position angle of about 74deg , with little or no interstellar component. This result is consistent with the catalog of Axon and Ellis, which gives zero polarization for six out of the ten stars within 6deg of lambda Eri on the sky. The physical interpretation is that the polarization of lambda Eri is typical of most Be stars in that it can be explained by electron scattering in the dense inner region of the equatorially flattened circumstellar envelope that produces the emission lines. The exceptionally clear correlation between polarization and emission strength for this star is probably due to the relatively mild nature of its activity, which allows us to watch a low-lying envelope appear and disappear almost completely.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Variable Polarization of the Be Star Lambda Eridani: 1986--94 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Variable Polarization of the Be Star Lambda Eridani: 1986--94, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Variable Polarization of the Be Star Lambda Eridani: 1986--94 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1057318