scholarly journals Distances of the Central Stars and their Position in the HR Diagram

1983 ◽  
Vol 103 ◽  
pp. 391-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.R. Pottasch

Determination of the distances to individual planetary nebulae are discussed. Especially those methods which are independent of assumed nebular properties (mass, absolute flux, etc.) are assembled and discussed. In this way, reasonable approximations to the distance can be obtained for about 50 planetary nebulae. The accuracy of the distances is tested by comparing nebular properties derived from these distances with the properties of nebulae at the galactic center or in the Magellanic clouds. A comparison is also made with the statistical distance determinations; the conclusion is that the assumption of constant mass often leads to an overestimate of the distance, while the assumption of constant Hβ flux leads to distances having individual uncertainties of up to a factor of 3.The central star temperature determination is summarized. Individual central stars are placed on the HR diagram and compared with theoretical predictions. Deductions concerning the evolution which can be made from the observations are discussed.

2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. A103 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Chornay ◽  
N. A. Walton

Context. Accurate distance measurements are fundamental to the study of planetary nebulae (PNe) but they have long been elusive. The most accurate and model-independent distance measurements for galactic PNe come from the trigonometric parallaxes of their central stars, which were only available for a few tens of objects prior to the Gaia mission. Aims. The accurate identification of PN central stars in the Gaia source catalogues is a critical prerequisite for leveraging the unprecedented scope and precision of the trigonometric parallaxes measured by Gaia. Our aim is to build a complete sample of PN central star detections with minimal contamination. Methods. We developed and applied an automated technique based on the likelihood ratio method to match candidate central stars in Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2) to known PNe in the Hong Kong/AAO/Strasbourg Hα PN catalogue, taking into account the BP – RP colours of the Gaia sources as well as their positional offsets from the nebula centres. These parameter distributions for both true central stars and background sources were inferred directly from the data. Results. We present a catalogue of over 1000 Gaia sources that our method has automatically identified as likely PN central stars. We demonstrate how the best matches enable us to trace nebula and central star evolution and to validate existing statistical distance scales, and we discuss the prospects for further refinement of the matching based on additional data. We also compare the accuracy of our catalogue to that of previous works.


2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren A. Reid ◽  
Quentin A. Parker

AbstractThe three main methods currently in use for estimating the excitation class of planetary nebulae (PNe) central stars are compared and evaluated using 586 newly discovered and previously known PNe in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). In order to achieve this we ran a series of evaluation tests using line ratios derived from de-reddened, flux-calibrated spectra. Pronounced differences between the methods are exposed after comparing the distribution of objects to their derived excitation. Line ratio comparisons show that each method's input parameters have a strong effect on the estimated excitation of a central star. Diagrams were created by comparing excitation classes with Hβ line fluxes. The best methods are then compared to published temperatures using the Zanstra method and assessed for their ability to reflect central star effective temperatures and evolution. As a result we call for a clarification of the term ‘excitation class’ according to the different input parameters used. The first method, which we refer to as Exneb relies purely on the ratios of certain key emission lines. The second method, which we refer to as Ex* includes modeling to create a continuous variable and, for optically thick PNe in the Magellanic Clouds, is designed to relate more closely to intrinsic stellar parameters. The third method, we refer to as Ex[Oiii]/Hβ since the [Oiii]/Hβ ratio is used in isolation to other temperature diagnostics. Each of these methods is shown to have serious drawbacks when used as an indicator for central star temperature. Finally, we suggest a new method (Exρ) for estimating excitation class incorporating both the [Oiii]/Hβ and the HeII λ4686/Hβ ratios. Although any attempt to provide accurate central star temperatures using the excitation class derived from nebula lines will always be limited, we show that this new method provides a substantial improvement over previous methods with better agreement to temperatures derived through the Zanstra method.


1993 ◽  
Vol 155 ◽  
pp. 174-174
Author(s):  
M. Samland ◽  
J. Köppen ◽  
A. Acker ◽  
B. Stenholm

Determination of the positions of central stars of planetary nebulae in the HR-diagram requires the knowledge of nebular distances. For almost all nebulae, these can only be given in terms of statistical scales. These scales have in common that they assume all nebulae to have the same structure (e.g. constant density) and that a unique ionized mass-radius relation exists. If the mass-radius relation is given by Mion = M0 · (R/R0)η, the distance d(pc) of planetary nebulae can be expressed as a function the de-reddened Hβ-flux (erg cm−2s−1) and the angular radius θ(arcsec): M0 and R0 are in solar masses and pc (Te = 10000 K, He/H = 0.1). The parameter η characterizes the distance scale: e.g. Shklovsky (1956) η = 0, Maciel L. Pottasch (1980) η = 1, Pottasch (1984) η = 3/2, Daub (1982) η = 5/3, and Kwok (1985) η = 9/4.


1989 ◽  
Vol 131 ◽  
pp. 293-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Perinotto

Central stars of planetary nebulae (PNCS) frequently exhibit fast winds (cf. Cerruti-Sola and Perinotto, 1985; C.P. and Grewing, this volume). They may be important for the structure of the whole nebula as well as for the evolution of the central star. Their speed is typically two orders of magnitude higher than that of the classical optically visible nebula, which in turn expands a few times faster than the most external winds detected in few cases in the radio domain.I review here the status of art in the determination of the mass loss rates (M) associated with these fast winds. I restrict myself to the ‘observational’ determinations. Only at the end I will say something about the predictions of multi-scattering line radiation wind driven theory in connection with one best studied object: N6C 6543. This allows one to conclude that this theory may be the right explanation also for these winds.


1993 ◽  
Vol 155 ◽  
pp. 184-184
Author(s):  
Francesca R. Boffi ◽  
Letizia Stanghellini

We present a study on the filling factors and ionized masses of four sets of galactic and extra–galactic planetary nebulae (PNe) at known distances. The calculation of filling factors and ionized masses has been pursued as to get a deeper insight on the evolution of this class of objects. We used a galactic set of PNe, another set of nebulae that are averagely located near the galactic center, and two sets of nebulae in the Magellanic Clouds. As input data, we used the electron densities derived from the forbidden line intensity ratios, the Hβ nebular fluxes, the distances of galactic PNe derived from extinction, and the distances of galactic center PNe and of extra–galactic PNe derived from galaxy (or galactic region) memberships. All these quantities, plus the input angular radii, have been selected among the most recent measurements available in the literature. We obtained several interesting results. (1) The calculated filling factors are on average much smaller than what is usually assumed, independently for each set. (2) The ionized masses are all in good agreement with the theoretical predictions, with the possible exception of the Galactic Bulge PNe. (3) Both filling factors and ionized masses cover a wide range of values as it is shown in the cumulative histograms below (filled circles=local PNe; open circles=galactic center PNe; filled squares=LMC PNe; open squares=SMC PNe).


1993 ◽  
Vol 155 ◽  
pp. 480-480
Author(s):  
C.Y. Zhang ◽  
S. Kwok

Making use of the results from recent infrared and radio surveys of planetary nebulae, we have selected 431 nebulae to form a sample where a number of distance-independent parameters (e.g., Tb, Td, I60μm and IRE) can be constructed. In addition, we also made use of other distance-independent parameters ne and T∗ where recent measurements are available. We have investigated the relationships among these parameters in the context of a coupled evolution model of the nebula and the central star. We find that most of the observed data in fact lie within the area covered by the model tracks, therefore lending strong support to the correctness of the model. Most interestingly, we find that the evolutionary tracks for nebulae with central stars of different core masses can be separated in a Tb-T∗ plane. This implies that the core masses and ages of the central stars can be determined completely independent of distance assumptions. The core masses and ages have been obtained for 302 central stars with previously determined central-star temperatures. We find that the mass distribution of the central stars strongly peaks at 0.6 M⊙, with 66% of the sample having masses <0.64 MM⊙. The luminosities of the central stars are then derived from their positions in the HR diagram according to their core masses and central star temperatures. If this method of mass (and luminosity) determination turns out to be accurate, we can bypass the extremely unreliable estimates for distances, and will be able to derive other physical properties of planetary nebulae.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (S323) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge García-Rojas ◽  
Romano L. M. Corradi ◽  
Henri M. J. Boffin ◽  
Hektor Monteiro ◽  
David Jones ◽  
...  

AbstractThe discrepancy between abundances computed using optical recombination lines (ORLs) and collisionally excited lines (CELs) is a major, unresolved problem with significant implications for the determination of chemical abundances throughout the Universe. In planetary nebulae (PNe), the most common explanation for the discrepancy is that two different gas phases coexist: a hot component with standard metallicity, and a much colder plasma enhanced in heavy elements. This dual nature is not predicted by mass loss theories, and direct observational support for it is still weak. In this work, we present our recent findings that demonstrate that the largest abundance discrepancies are associated with close binary central stars. OSIRIS-GTC tunable filter imaging of the faint O ii ORLs and MUSE-VLT deep 2D spectrophotometry confirm that O ii ORL emission is more centrally concentrated than that of [Oiii] CELs and, therefore, that the abundance discrepancy may be closely linked to binary evolution.


1983 ◽  
pp. 373-373
Author(s):  
T. P. Stecher ◽  
S. P. Maran ◽  
T. R. Gull ◽  
L. H. Aller ◽  
M. P. Savedoff

1989 ◽  
Vol 131 ◽  
pp. 355-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Monk ◽  
M. J. Barlow ◽  
R. E. S. Clegg

AAT and IUE spectra of thirteen medium-excitation Magellanic Cloud planetary nebulae have been used to derive H I Zanstra effective temperatures and surface gravities for the central stars.


1999 ◽  
Vol 190 ◽  
pp. 332-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Dopita

The proximity, accurately known distance and low line-of-sight reddening give the ideal circumstances to pursue studies of individual stellar populations in the Magellanic Clouds. Here we show how our understanding of the evolution and chemical composition of the planetary nebulae in the Magellanic Clouds has been impacted by imaging and UV spectroscopic studies using the Hubble Space Telescope. Images provide sizes, internal morphological structure, absolute fluxes, and dynamical ages, while spectra allow us to place the central stars accurately on the H-R Diagram, and we can also examine the details of the evolution, of mass- and age- dependent chemical dredge-up processes, and infer the star-formation history of the Magellanic Clouds.


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