Polarization in the emission lines of Be stars.

Summary. Observations of linear polarization in the Hcc and HP lines of Be stars are presented. A decrease in the polarization across these lines is observed for shell stars and stars with large V sin i. A model is presented in which the continuum polarization is produced by electron scattering in the inner regions (to a distance of about 3 stellar radii) of an extended flattened disk where N__ and The emission flux occurs in an outer region of the disk extending to -3 about 10 stellar radii where N__ 1012 em Key words: Be stars polarization shells