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[39.09] Large-Scale Structures in OB Supergiants: from an Inhomogeneous Surface to a Structured Wind

T. Morel (Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo, Italy), S.V. Marchenko (Western Kentucky University), A.K. Pati (Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP), Bangalore, India), K. Kuppuswamy (Vainu Bappu Observatory, Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP), India), M.T. Carini, E. Wood, R. Zimmerman (Western Kentucky University)

In 2000-2001 we performed long-term spectroscopic monitoring of a sample of bright OB-supergiants aimed at establishing the incidence of co-rotating, large-scale wind structures. In the optical, this can be achieved by detecting rotationally modulated variability in H\alpha. Practically all the surveyed stars show dramatic line-profile variations operating on a daily (and in some cases on a hourly) timescale. Here we discuss the case of HD 14134 (B3 Ia) where a periodic modulation seen in the optical continuum (stellar surface, P=12.825d) triggers spectacular variations in the H\alpha emission line (stellar wind).

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35 #3
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.