Growth of the line-profile variation region during Be episodes

Abstract

We have found that the range in wavelength of the line-profile variations (lpv) in the Be star λ Eridani increases by some 20% during its emission phases. This growth is associated with a possible increase in the equatorial velocity of the star during emission. We discuss the significance of this in connection with other features of the lpv and our earlier discovery of a weak correlation between the amplitude of the lpv and Be outbursts in ζ Ophiuchi.