On the CQE Phase Signature Feature in High-Resolution Spectro-Interferometry of Be Stars

TL;DR

This paper investigates the CQE-PS feature in high-resolution spectro-interferometry of Be stars, revealing its origin in differential absorption by circumstellar disks and its potential to diagnose disk properties.

Contribution

It introduces and analyzes the CQE-PS feature, a new diagnostic tool for probing the inner regions of Be star disks using spectro-interferometry.

Findings

CQE-PS is caused by differential absorption in circumstellar disks.

The feature provides insights into disk properties on stellar radii scales.

Potential for improved understanding of Be star disk dynamics.

Abstract

We analyse a feature that is detectable at the differential phases of high-resolution spectro-interferometry of Be stars. The origin of this feature (dubbed CQE-PS, Central Quasi Emission Phase Signature) lies in the differential absorption of photospheric radiation by the circumstellar disk, which is spectroscopically detected as a CQE line profile in shell stars. This phenomenon has great diagnostic potential for Be star disks, revealing properties of these disks on the scale of a few stellar radii.