Quantitative Spectral Classification of Be Stars on Low Dispersion Spectra

Abstract Two separate Balmer jumps are observed in some Be stars. The first one, in absorption and unchanging, is attributed to the central star and gives its spectral type and luminosity class in the λ,D system. The second one, occuring at shorter wavelengths, either in absorption or in emission, originates in layers at a low pressure. It is shown that these layers modify the colors of the central star on both sides of the Balmer jump and that they are not optically thin even in the continuum.