Disk-Loss and Disk Renewal Phases in Classical Be Stars II. Detailed Analysis of Spectropolarimetric Data

TL;DR

This study analyzes 15 years of spectropolarimetric data from two Be stars, revealing complex polarization behaviors and disk phenomena, and models these with 3D radiative transfer simulations.

Contribution

It provides detailed analysis of polarization variations and introduces modeling efforts to understand disk dynamics in Be stars.

Findings

Loop-like polarization structures linked to disk activity.

Polarization angle deviations suggest disk warps or density waves.

Temporal mismatch between polarization features and outbursts.

Abstract

In Wisniewski et al. 2010, paper I, we analyzed 15 years of spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric data from the Ritter and Pine Bluff Observatories of 2 Be stars, 60 Cygni and {\pi} Aquarii, when a transition from Be to B star occurred. Here we anaylize the intrinsic polarization, where we observe loop-like structures caused by the rise and fall of the polarization Balmer Jump and continuum V-band polarization being mismatched temporally with polarimetric outbursts. We also see polarization angle deviations from the mean, reported in paper I, which may be indicative of warps in the disk, blobs injected at an inclined orbit, or spiral density waves. We show our ongoing efforts to model time dependent behavior of the disk to constrain the phenomena, using 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer codes.