Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T18:48:13.673Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Use of Terms and Definitions in the Study of Be Stars (Review Paper)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 September 2016

George W. Collins II*
Affiliation:
Perkins Observatory, The Ohio State and Ohio Wesleyan Universities

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

In this paper I shall examine the use and misuse of some astronomical terminology as it is commonly found in the literature. The incorrect usage of common terms, and sometimes the terms themselves, can lead to confusion by the reader and may well indicate misconceptions by the authors. A basic definition of the Be phenomena is suggested and other stellar characteristics whose interpretation may change when used for non-spherical stars, is discussed. Special attention is paid to a number of terms whose semantic nature is misleading when applied to the phenomena they are intended to represent. The use of model-dependent terms is discussed and some comments are offered which are intended to improve the clarity of communication within the subject.

Type
I. Definitions and Terminology
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

References

Burbidge, G.R., and Burbidge, E.M. (1953). Ap.J. 117, 407 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collins, G.W. II (1973). Astron. & Astrophys. 26, 316 Google Scholar
Collins, G.W. II, and Smith, R.C. (1985). Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 213, 519552 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fowler, A. (1922). Trans. I.A.U. 1, 100 Google Scholar
Harris, D.L. III (1963). “Basic Astronomical Data” Ed: Strand, K.Aa. Stars and Stellar Systems Vol. III Ed: Kuiper, G.P. and Middlehurst, B.M. pp. 269 Google Scholar
Jaschek, M., Slettebak, A., and Jaschek, C. (1981). “Be Star TerminologyBe star Newsletter #4 pp. 911 Observatoire de StrasbourgGoogle Scholar
Kandel, R.S. (1973). Astron.& Astrophys. 22, 155156 Google Scholar
Limber, D.N. (1962). “On the Nature of the Wolf-Rayet Phenomenon” a paper delivered at the 111 Meeting of the AAS at Yale University; Abstract, A.J. 6_7, 580Google Scholar
Novotny, E. (1973). “Introduction to Stellar Atmospheres and InteriorsOxford University Press; New York, London, Toronto p.10 Google Scholar
Peters, G.J. (1976). “Be and Shell Stars” IAU Symposium #70, pp. 69, Ed: Slettebak, A., Reidel, D. Pub.Co. Dordrecht-Holland CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rybicki, G. (1969). “Spectrum Formation in Stars with Steady State Extended Atmospheres” I.A.U. Coll. 2 Comm. 36; Ed.: Groth and Wellman; NBS Special Publ. 312, P-96Google Scholar
Schild, R.E. (1966). Ap.J., 146, 142 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schild, R.E. (1973). Ap.J., 179, 221 Google Scholar
Schild, R.E., and Romanishin, W. (1976). Ap.J., 204, 493 Google Scholar
Shajn, G., and Struve, O. (1929). Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 89, 222 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slettebak, A. (1949). Ap.J., 110, 498 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slettebak, A. (1968). Ap.J., 154, 993 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slettebak, A. (1985). Ap.J. Supp., 59, 769784 CrossRefGoogle Scholar