Christopher Tycner (Central Michigan University)



Title:

Investigating Be Star Disks using Long-baseline Interferometry


Abstract:

Be stars form a subclass of B-type stars, where the stars possess gaseous disk-like structures.  
Historically, the presence of a disk was detected through line emission present in the spectrum or 
through IR excess detected in the spectral energy distribution originating from these sources.  
However, long-baseline interferometry is the only observational method available today that can be 
used to spatially resolve the circumstellar regions of Be stars using either line or continuum 
emission from the disks.  This talk will review a sample of key interferometric results that played 
a major role in supporting the current view of these systems, where commonly flat, rotationally  
supported disks connected to rapidly rotating stars are quoted as an observational standard.  
Examples of observational work and results from various interferometric instruments including 
recent work will be presented.  The particular strengths, limitations, and future implications of 
different interferometric strategies will also be covered.