Cyclic phenomena in the circumstellar gaseous envelope of the candidate herbig A0e star HD 163296

We present new results of a spectroscopic and polarimetric investigation of the candidate young Herbig Ae/Be star HD 163296. Twenty two spectra of this object near the H alpha, He I 5876 and DNa I lines had been obtained in 1992-1995 at the Astrophysical National Laboratory of Brazil (LNA). In addition, forty seven high-resolution spectra in H alpha and H beta were obtained at the ESO (Chile) in 1991-1992. VRI-polarimetry (about forty measurements of the Stokes parameters Q, U, V in each passband) were carried out at the SAAO (South Africa) in July 17-30, 1995. Striking profile variability has been found in all the lines on time scales from hours to months. Analysis of the profiles revealed manifestations of a remote cool shell which is in active interaction with the variable kinematically stratified stellar wind. Signs of cyclic positional variations of the H alpha and H beta emission peaks were observed during five nights in July, 1991. Sinusoidal variations of the linear polarization parameters detected in July, 1995 are explained in the framework of a model involving magnetized gaseous condensation, rotating in the envelope with the period of 15 days. Marginal detection of circular polarization is also reported.