Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 1996
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996apj...470.1144h&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal v.470, p.1144
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
18
Stars: Circumstellar Matter, Line: Profiles, Stars: Individual Constellation Name: Beta Pictoris
Scientific paper
We present a systematic study of the transient absorption features observed in the spectra of β Pictoris. We calculate detailed synthetic spectra of a star, which is partially obscured by a permanent circumstellar disk and by an absorbing body of a given size, position, radial velocity with respect to the star, and total column density. We show that because of the nonuniform surface brightness of the star, the strength of an absorption feature is an intricate function of both position and size. Consequently, one cannot determine the projected area of the body or its position from a single measurement only. However, by studying several closely spaced lines simultaneously, like those in the region of the Fe II UV1 multiplet at λ ≍2600 Å, one can determine both the position and size of the body. We present a preliminary analysis of Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph observations of β Pic in this region and show that while existing spectra do not have sufficient time coverage to allow us to track a single body during its transit across the stellar disk, our approach provides a robust means of tracking cometlike objects transiting the star and should be used to interpret future monitoring of β Pic and other stars showing similar variable absorption features. Conversely, the effect of body position is so great that it must be taken into account; absorption-line analyses based on techniques developed for interstellar lines should not be used.
Heap Sara R.
Hubeny Ivan
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