Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2016
Recently, the line profile variability (lpv) of two low-v sin i Be stars, μ Cen and ω (28) CMa was successfully modelled as nonradial pulsation (nrp) of rapidly rotating stars seen pole-on. In this work, it is shown that the lpv of low-v sin i early-type Be stars in general closely resembles these two cases, and is therefore explainable by the same mechanism. The lpv of intermediate to high-v sin i Be stars can be explained by the same model if the inclination angle of the model alone is increased. Consequently, early-type Be stars form a distinct, fairly homogeneous class of non-radial low-order g-mode pulsators.
Based on observations obtained at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile, prop. No. 64.H-0548, and Calar Alto observatory (DSAZ)