Atlas of high-resolution emission and shell lines in Be stars. Line profiles and short-term variability^*

¹ Astronomisches Institut, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
² Astronomisches Institut, Universität Tübingen, Waldhäuser Str. 64, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
³ Astrofysisch Instituut, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussel, Belgium
⁴ European Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Straße 2, D-85748 Garching, Germany

Send offprint request to: R.W. Hanuschik, Bochum address

Received: 7 August 1995
Accepted: 25 September 1995

Abstract

We present an atlas of high-, high-resolution ( km ) data of Be star emission and shell profiles. We have collected profiles of Hα and of Fe ii, mostly of the λ5317 transition. These lines have been selected to provide measures for the overall emission strength and for the velocity field in these disks. We have collected data for 77 southern and equatorial programme stars, covering the period 1982-1993. This is the most comprehensive overview of profile shapes in Be disks. We propose a three-dimensional scheme in which most observed profiles can be classified. The parameters are i) inclination, ii) optical depth, and iii) the pattern of the velocity field. A search for short-term variability (timescales between five days and a few minutes) in six stars ended with negative result. Shortest observed timescale for variability is a few days for well-developed disks in binary systems (HR 1910, HR 2142).