Near Simultaneous Spectroscopic and Polarimetric Observations of Be Stars

Near simultaneous optical spectroscopic (on four nights) and linear continuum (B, V, R and I bands) polarimetric (on seven nights) observations of 29 Be stars were carried out during November - December 1993. The program Be stars displayed wavelength dependence of intrinsic polarizations with no frequency dependence of position angles. Measured values of linear intrinsic polarizations of these Be stars were all less than 1.6%. The Be and Be-shell stars displayed no clear distinction in their polarization values. Observed polarizations at B, V, R and I bands were compared with the theoretically computed linear polarization values of the program stars. It has been suggested that these observed polarizations indicate that the envelopes of the Be stars may have a range of oblateness. Early-type Be stars displayed relatively higher polarizations than the late-type ones. Full widths at half intensity maximum of H(sub alpha) profiles and the intrinsic linear continuum polarizations are closely correlated with the projected rotational velocities of the program stars. Photospheric-absorption-corrected equivalent widths of H(sub alpha), profiles [W((alpha)] and the radii of H(sub alpha) emitting envelopes (R(sub e)) are non-linearly correlated with the intrinsic continuum polarizations of these stars. However, W((alpha) and R(sub e) are linearly correlated. Detail discussion of these results are presented in this paper.