The interpretation of the Wilson-Bappu effect

The problem of the physical interpretation of the Wilson-Bappu effect is examined. A postulate is forwarded according to which this effect expresses the dependence of the complete kinetic energyE _t of turbulent motions in the medium generating magnesium emission in the doublet 2800 Mgii on the velocityW ₀ of turbulent motion. One of the consequences of the application of this postulate is the appearance of the relationships (8) and (11) which give the magnitude of the kinetic energyE _t of turbulent motions in the first case (Figure 2) and the magnitude of the mass of emitting mediumM ₀ in the second (Figure 3) depending on the turbulent velocityW ₀ (k). This postulate unit in a common conception all variety of the magnesium emission escaped from a single star as well as from binary systems on the one hand and the magnesium emission generated in chromospheres as well as in intercomponent clouds or streams on the other.