The Relation Between Mass Loss and Luminosity For Be Stars

Abstract

AbstractThe mass loss rates of a large sample of Be stars derived from the UV and the IR are compared. The IR rates were derived using a simple equatorial disc model, and are typically a factor 100 larger than those derived from the UV. In terms of mass fluxes, the mass flux in the polar regions (derived from the UV observations) is about a factor 103 smaller than the mass flux in the equatorial regions. The dependence of MIR and Muv on stellar luminosity is studied. It is shown that MIR depends weaker on L than Muv. This suggests that two different mechanisms are responsible for the mass flux in polar and equatorial regions.