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Paper: Spectroastrometry and NLTE Modeling of the Disk Around the Be Star β CMi
Volume: 464, Circumstellar Dynamics at High Resolution
Page: 205
Authors: Wheelwright, H. E.; Bjorkman, J. E.; Oudmaijer, R. D.; Carciofi, A. C.
Abstract: To understand what processes result in the creation of Be star disks, and how angular momentum is transported within them, their kinematics and physical properties must be constrained. This requires comparing high spatial and spectral resolution data with detailed radiative transfer modeling. We present a high spectral resolution, R ∼ 80 000, sub milli-arcsecond precision, spectroastrometric study of the circumstellar disks around Be stars. Kinematical modeling demonstrates that only Keplerian disks can recreate the observed spectroastrometric signatures. Focusing on β CMi, the data are confronted with a three-dimensional, NLTE radiative transfer model to directly constrain the properties of its disk. We demonstrate that the observed SED, polarization and spectroastrometric signature of β CMi can be well reproduced by a model of a viscous disk. The agreement between the model and the extensive data-set confirms that the disks around Be stars are best modeled as viscous decretion disks in Keplerian rotation.
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