scholarly journals Maser emission in planetary nebulae

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S242) ◽  
pp. 292-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda Gómez

AbstractStars at the top of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) can exhibit maser emission from molecules like SiO, H2O and OH. These masers appear in general stratified in the envelope, with the SiO masers close to the central star and the OH masers farther out in the envelope. As the star evolves to the planetary nebula (PN) phase, mass-loss stops and ionization of the envelope begins, making the masers disappear progressively. The OH masers in PNe can be present in the envelope for periods of ~1000 years but the H2O masers can survive only hundreds of years. Then, H2O maser emission is not expected in PNe and its detection suggests that these objects are in a very particular moment of its evolution in the transition from AGB to PNe. We discuss the unambiguous detection of H2O maser emission in two planetary nebulae: K 3-35 and IRAS 17347-3139. The water-vapor masers in these PNe are tracing disk-like structures around the core and in the case of K3-35 the masers were also found at the tip of its bipolar lobes. Kinematic modeling of the H2O masers in both PNe suggest the existence of a rotating and expanding disk. Both PNe exhibit a bipolar morphology and in the particular case of K 3-35 the OH masers are highly polarized close to the core in a disk-like structure. All these observational results are consistent with the models where rotation and magnetic fields have been proposed to explain the asymmetries observed in planetary nebulae.

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.


Author(s):  
T M Lawlor

Abstract We present stellar evolution calculations from the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) to the Planetary Nebula (PN) phase for models of initial mass 1.2 M⊙ and 2.0 M⊙ that experience a Late Thermal Pulse (LTP), a helium shell flash that occurs following the AGB and causes a rapid looping evolution between the AGB and PN phase. We use these models to make comparisons to the central star of the Stingray Nebula, V839 Ara (SAO 244567). The central star has been observed to be rapidly evolving (heating) over the last 50 to 60 years and rapidly dimming over the past 20–30 years. It has been reported to belong to the youngest known planetary nebula, now rapidly fading in brightness. In this paper we show that the observed timescales, sudden dimming, and increasing Log(g), can all be explained by LTP models of a specific variety. We provide a possible explanation for the nebular ionization, the 1980’s sudden mass loss episode, the sudden decline in mass loss, and the nebular recombination and fading.


2020 ◽  
Vol 635 ◽  
pp. A173 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Krtička ◽  
J. Kubát ◽  
I. Krtičková

Context. Fast line-driven stellar winds play an important role in the evolution of planetary nebulae, even though they are relatively weak. Aims. We provide global (unified) hot star wind models of central stars of planetary nebulae. The models predict wind structure including the mass-loss rates, terminal velocities, and emergent fluxes from basic stellar parameters. Methods. We applied our wind code for parameters corresponding to evolutionary stages between the asymptotic giant branch and white dwarf phases for a star with a final mass of 0.569 M⊙. We study the influence of metallicity and wind inhomogeneities (clumping) on the wind properties. Results. Line-driven winds appear very early after the star leaves the asymptotic giant branch (at the latest for Teff ≈ 10 kK) and fade away at the white dwarf cooling track (below Teff = 105 kK). Their mass-loss rate mostly scales with the stellar luminosity and, consequently, the mass-loss rate only varies slightly during the transition from the red to the blue part of the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. There are the following two exceptions to the monotonic behavior: a bistability jump at around 20 kK, where the mass-loss rate decreases by a factor of a few (during evolution) due to a change in iron ionization, and an additional maximum at about Teff = 40−50 kK. On the other hand, the terminal velocity increases from about a few hundreds of km s−1 to a few thousands of km s−1 during the transition as a result of stellar radius decrease. The wind terminal velocity also significantly increases at the bistability jump. Derived wind parameters reasonably agree with observations. The effect of clumping is stronger at the hot side of the bistability jump than at the cool side. Conclusions. Derived fits to wind parameters can be used in evolutionary models and in studies of planetary nebula formation. A predicted bistability jump in mass-loss rates can cause the appearance of an additional shell of planetary nebula.


1995 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-173
Author(s):  
Grant Gussie

AbstractA novel explanation for the origin of the cometary globules within NGC 7293 (the ‘Helix’ planetary nebula) is examined, namely that these globules originate as massive cometary bodies at large astrocentric radii. The masses of such hypothetical cometary bodies would have to be several orders of magnitude larger than those of any such bodies observed in our solar system in order to supply the observed mass of neutral gas. It is, however, shown that comets at ‘outer Oort cloud’ distances are likely to survive past the red giant and asymptotic giant branch evolutionary phases of the central star, allowing them to survive until the formation of the planetary nebula. Some observational tests of this hypothesis are proposed.


2003 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 439-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Steffen ◽  
Detlef Schönberner

The density structure of the extended haloes of Planetary Nebulae (PN) is generally believed to reflect the previous history of heavy mass loss during the final stages of stellar evolution on the asymptotic giant-branch (AGB). In this review, we discuss different interpretations of the observed PN halo structures in the light of recent numerical simulations combining detailed AGB and post-AGB stellar evolution calculations with time-dependent hydrodynamical wind models.


2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (2) ◽  
pp. 2195-2203 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Jones ◽  
Ondřej Pejcha ◽  
Romano L M Corradi

ABSTRACT Recent studies have indicated that triple-star systems may play a role in the formation of an appreciable number of planetary nebulae, however, only one triple central star is known to date (and that system is likely too wide to have had much influence on the evolution of its component stars). Here, we consider the possibility that Sh 2-71 was formed by a triple system that has since broken apart. We present the discovery of two regions of emission, seemingly aligned with the proposed tertiary orbit (i.e. in line with the axis formed by the two candidate central star systems previously considered in the literature). We also perform a few simple tests of the plausibility of the triple hypothesis based on the observed properties (coordinates, radial velocities, distances, and proper motions) of the stars observed close to the projected centre of the nebula, adding further support through numerical integrations of binary orbits responding to mass loss. Although a number of open questions remain, we conclude that Sh 2-71 is currently one of the best candidates for planetary nebula formation influenced by triple-star interactions.


1990 ◽  
Vol 8 (04) ◽  
pp. 360-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. B. Ashley

Abstract NGC 6302 is one of the highest excitation planetary nebulae known. It has an obscured central star with a temperature estimated at 430,000 K. We present here CCD images in Hα and Hβ of NGC 6302, and interpret the differences between the images as being due to extinction caused by dust within the nebula. The dust appears to be concentrated in the core, as expected from infrared observations. There is no evidence of patchy foreground extinction, although there is a slight difference in the average extinction between the eastern and western lobes of the nebula. A comparison between the Hα image and a 5 GHz map gives a dust extinction of ΔAV~3.5 to the central star. The outer contours of the 5 GHz map are not in good agreement with the optical images, and further observations at this frequency would be useful.


2003 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 157-158
Author(s):  
M. Perinotto ◽  
C. Calonaci ◽  
D. Schönberner ◽  
M. Steffen ◽  
T. Blöcker

The formation and evolution of a planetary nebula is based on the occurrence of a strong AGB wind and the rapid evolution of the central star with corresponding changes of its ionizing flux and wind power. We have studied the influence of different mass-loss histories in combination with various central-star properties.


1981 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 45-50
Author(s):  
Mario Perinotto ◽  
Piero Benvenuti ◽  
Carla Cacciari

AbstractFrom a high resolution spectrum taken with IUE, the central star of the planetary nebula IC 2149 is found to exibit a wind with edge velocity of 1440 ± 100 km s-1. Our preliminary evaluation of the associated mass loss rate gives 10-8 M0 yr-1. Other planetary nebulae nuclei are studied with low resolution IUE spectra and indications are found of mass loss rates consistent with the above value.


1989 ◽  
Vol 131 ◽  
pp. 401-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sun Kwok

Over the past decade, we have come to realize that mass loss on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) plays a significant role in the formation of planetary nebulae (PN). Mass ejected during the AGB can now be observed in haloes of PN and we believe that the main shell of PN is formed by the interaction of this material with a later-developed central-star wind. In this review, we show that the evolution from AGB to PN can be traced in a continuous infrared sequence. This sequence predicts properties of proto-PN which allow them to be identified.


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