The magnetic field and abundance distribution geometry of the peculiar B star HD 215441

Nine high-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra of the strongly magnetic Bp star HD 215441 = Babcock's star, well spaced through the rotation cycle, have been obtained. These data have been used to model the magnetic field geometry of the star and the distribution over one hemisphere of the elements Si, Ti, Cr, and Fe by means of a line synthesis program that includes the effects of the magnetic field and of nonuniform abundance distributions. The magnetic field axis appears to be inclined to the rotation axis at an angle of about 35 deg, and the rotation axis is inclined to the line of sight by about the same amount. The Zeeman splitting of spectral lines is reasonably well reproduced by an axisymmetric superposition of dipole, quadrupole, and octupole of polar strengths +67, -55, and +30 kG, respectively. 51 refs.