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- Observations of Be Disk Building: Optical Spectra of NW Serpentis (HD 168797) over 35 days
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Observations of Be Disk Building: Optical Spectra of NW Serpentis (HD 168797) over 35 days
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Abstract
The classical Be star NW Serpentis (HD 168797) is part of the CoRoT field and has long been studied photometrically and is known to have multi-periodic pulsational modes. Such pulsations are thought to be a way to generate the Be equatorial circumstellar disk. In an earlier survey, we identified this star as a possible non-radial pulsator and a known B Be variable. During Fall 2008, we obtained 23 spectra over 35 nights in the Halpha region. During this time, we observed Halpha to go from purely photospheric absorption to double-peaked emission then ”fade” back toward photospheric absorption. We present our determination of stellar parameters, our analysis of the circumstellar disk construction, and the possibility of a binary companion. These observations also suggest that frequent observations of Be stars known to be non-radial pulsators may yield more opportunities to study the disk-building phenomenon and thus assist in constraining theoretical models of disk generation.
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About: Erika D. Grundstrom
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA, and Dept. of Physics, Fisk University, Nashville, TN, USA
About: M. V. McSwain
Dept. of Physics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
About: C. Aragona
Dept. of Physics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
About: T. S. Boyajian
CHARA, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
About: A. N. Marsh
Dept. of Physics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
About: R. M. Roettenbacher
Dept. of Physics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA