Rapid Variation of Shell Line Parameters in ζ Tau

Abstract

ζTau is a Be star which probably showed already in 1973 rapid variations in Hα emission strength with time scales of a few minutes (Bahng, 1976). It represents, moreover, the primary of a well-known binary system with a period of 132.91 days (e.g., Hynek and Struve, 1942), and its shell displays long term instabilities with time scales of some years (Delplace and Chambon, 1976). The basis of the present work is a compact set of 82 grating photographic spectrograms obtained at Merate by means of the 137 cm reflector with an inverse dispersion of about 35 Å/mm between Jan 17 and Jan 24, 1983. Forty four of these spectra cover the range between ˜ 4000 and ˜ 5000 Å, the other ones being centered on Hα.