Diagnosis of extended atmospheres - Physical and geometrical parameters of the line-formation region

Abstract

A method that relates parameters of the observed Gaussian absorption profile formed in an extended atmosphere with local parameters such as excitation temperature, atom columns, and distance from the central star to the line-forming region is presented. It also allows a diagnosis of the extended atmosphere to be made through line-intensity variations, profile of the saturated lines, or variations in the extent of the emission wings.