scholarly journals Shaping of Planetary Nebulae by Exoplanets

Galaxies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Keaveney ◽  
Laura Boyle ◽  
Matt Redman

(1) Background: We investigate the hypothesis that exoplanet engulfment can help explain the observed non-spherical planetary nebula population, as a complementary shaping mechanism to the binary hypothesis. The aim is to investigate the extent to which massive planets can explain the population of non-spherical planetary nebulae; (2) Methods: This research utilises a new tool to calculate the planet-fraction of planetary nebulae progenitor stars called simsplash; (3) Results: we conclude that ∼15–30% of non-spherical planetary nebulae around single stars will have a history in which they engulfed a massive planet on the AGB; and (4) Conclusions: Engulfment of massive exoplanets may contribute significantly to the formation of non-spherical planetary nebulae around single stars, yet appears to be insufficient to explain them all.

1983 ◽  
Vol 103 ◽  
pp. 545-545
Author(s):  
T.R. Gull ◽  
S.P. Maran ◽  
T.P. Stecher ◽  
L. H. Aller

Three high-excitation planetary nebulae in the Magellanic Clouds were successfully observed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer. Emission lines as well as nebular and stellar continua were detected. Fluxes in the lines 1550 C IV, 1640 He II, 1663 O III, and 1909 C III were measured in spectra of LMC P40, SMC N2, and SMC N5 obtained with the IUE short wavelength spectrograph; 2422 Ne IV was measured in P40 with the long wavelength spectrograph. The data were analyzed together with groundbased observations by Aller in order to derive ionization models and the nebular abundances of He, C, N, O, S, Ar. The C abundances are as large as those typically found in galactic planetaries, although the interstellar media of the Clouds are notably deficient in C. Thus, the C was synthesized in the progenitor stars and presumably was lifted to the stellar envelopes by convection prior to the ejection of the nebulae. Other planetary nebulae in the Clouds, as well as the planetary nebula in the Fornax galaxy, may be observable with IUE.


1997 ◽  
Vol 180 ◽  
pp. 475-476
Author(s):  
M. G. Richer ◽  
G. Stasińska ◽  
M. L. McCall

We have obtained spectra of 28 planetary nebulae in the bulge of M31 using the MOS spectrograph at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. Typically, we observed the [O II] λ3727 to He I λ5876 wavelength region at a resolution of approximately 1.6 å/pixel. For 19 of the 21 planetary nebulae whose [OIII]λ5007 luminosities are within 1 mag of the peak of the planetary nebula luminosity function, our oxygen abundances are based upon a measured [OIII]λ4363 intensity, so they are based upon a measured electron temperature. The oxygen abundances cover a wide range, 7.85 dex < 12 + log(O/H) < 9.09 dex, but the mean abundance is surprisingly low, 12 + log(O/H)–8.64 ± 0.32 dex, i.e., roughly half the solar value (Anders & Grevesse 1989). The distribution of oxygen abundances is shown in Figure 1, where the ordinate indicates the number of planetary nebulae with abundances within ±0.1 dex of any point on the x-axis. The dashed line indicates the mean abundance, and the dotted lines indicate the ±1 σ points. The shape of this abundance distribution seems to indicate that the bulge of M31 does not contain a large population of bright, oxygen-rich planetary nebulae. This is a surprising result, for various population synthesis studies (e.g., Bica et al. 1990) have found a mean stellar metallicity approximately 0.2 dex above solar. This 0.5 dex discrepancy leads one to question whether the mean stellar metallicity is as high as the population synthesis results indicate or if such metal-rich stars produce bright planetary nebulae at all. This could be a clue concerning the mechanism responsible for the variation in the number of bright planetary nebulae observed per unit luminosity in different galaxies (e.g., Hui et al. 1993).


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.


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 363-363
Author(s):  
Johanna Jurcsik ◽  
Benjamin Montesinos

FG Sagittae is one of the most important key objects of post-AGB stellar evolutionary studies. As a consequence of a final helium shell flash, this unique variable has shown real evolutionary changes on human time scales during this century. The observational history was reviewed in comparison with predictions from evolutionary models. The central star of the old planetary nebula (Hel-5) evolved from left to right in the HR diagram, going in just hundred years from the hot region of exciting sources of planetary nebulae to the cool red supergiant domain just before our eyes becoming a newly-born post-AGB star. The effective temperature of the star was around 50,000 K at the beginning of this century, and the last estimates in the late 1980s give 5,000-6,500 K. Recent spectroscopic observations obtained by Ingemar Lundström show definite changes in the nebular line intensities. This fact undoubtedly rules out the possibility that, instead of FG Sge, a hidden hot object would be the true central star of the nebula. Consequently, the observed evolutionary changes are connected with the evolution of a single star.


2022 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Jordan Simpson ◽  
David Jones ◽  
Roger Wesson ◽  
Jorge García-Rojas

Abstract A30 belongs to a class of planetary nebulae identified as “born-again”, containing dense, hydrogen-poor ejecta with extreme abundance discrepancy factors (ADFs), likely associated with a central binary system. We present intermediate-dispersion spectroscopy of one such feature—the J4 equatorial knot. We confirm the apparent physical and chemical segregation of the polar and equatorial knots observed in previous studies, and place an upper limit on the ADF for O2+ of 35, significantly lower than that of the polar knots. These findings further reinforce the theory that the equatorial and polar knots originate from different events.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S283) ◽  
pp. 340-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashkbiz Danehkar ◽  
David J. Frew ◽  
Quentin A. Parker ◽  
Orsola De Marco

AbstractWe estimate distances to the spherical planetary nebula Abell 39 and the bipolar planetary nebula NGC 7027 by interpolating from a wide grid of photoionization models using the 3-D code, MOCASSIN. We find preliminary distances of 1.5 kpc and 0.9 kpc respectively, with uncertainties of about 30%.


1987 ◽  
Vol 122 ◽  
pp. 501-502
Author(s):  
C. Giovanardi ◽  
D.R. Altschuler ◽  
S.E. Schneider ◽  
P.R. Silverglate

In the course of a sensitive search for atomic hydrogen emission associated with planetary nebulae having high velocities relative to Galactic HI (Schneider et al. 1986), we detected absorption in the spectrum of IC 4997 (PK 58-10.1). This is only the second definite detection of HI associated with a PN. The velocity of the feature coincides precisely with that expected if the gas is expanding with the measured optical expansion velocity of 14 km s−1 (Sabbadin 1984), strongly suggesting an association.


2019 ◽  
Vol 624 ◽  
pp. A83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zs. Kővári ◽  
K. G. Strassmeier ◽  
K. Oláh ◽  
L. Kriskovics ◽  
K. Vida ◽  
...  

Context. On the asymptotic giant branch, low to intermediate mass stars blow away their outer envelopes, forming planetary nebulae. Dynamic interaction between the planetary nebula and its central progenitor is poorly understood. The interaction is even more complex when the central object is a binary star with a magnetically active component, as is the case for the target in this paper. Aims. We aim to quantify the stellar surface activity of the cool binary component of IN Com and aim to explain its origin. In general, we need a better understanding of how central binary stars in planetary nebulae evolve and how this evolution could develop such magnetically active stars as IN Com. Methods. We present a time series of 13 consecutive Doppler images covering six months in 2017 that we used to measure the surface differential rotation with a cross-correlation method. Hitherto unpublished high-precision photometric data from 1989 to 2017 are presented. We applied Fourier-transformation-based frequency analysis to both photometry and spectra. Very high resolution (R ≈ 200 000) spectra were used to update IN Com’s astrophysical parameters by means of spectral synthesis. Results. Our time-series Doppler images show cool and warm spots coexisting with an average surface temperature contrast of −1000 K and +300 K with respect to the effective temperature. Approximately 8% of the stellar surface is covered with cool spots and ∼3% with warm spots. A consistent cool polar spot is seen in all images. The average lifetime of the cool spots is not much more than a few stellar rotations (one month), while the warm spots appear to live longer (three months) and are mostly confined to high latitudes. We found anti-solar surface differential rotation with a shear coefficient of α = −0.026 ± 0.005 suggesting an equatorial rotation period of 5.973 ± 0.008 d. We reconfirm the 5.9 day rotation period of the cool star from photometry, radial velocities, and Hα line-profile variations. A long-term V-brightness variation with a likely period of 7.2 yr is also found. It appears in phase with the orbital radial velocity of the binary system in the sense that it is brightest at highest velocity and faintest at lowest velocity, that is, at the two phases of quadrature. We redetermine [Ba/Fe], [Y/Fe], and [Sr/Fe] ratios and confirm the overabundance of these s-process elements in the atmosphere of IN Com.


1993 ◽  
Vol 155 ◽  
pp. 575-575
Author(s):  
P. R. Amnuel

The chemical composition of 218 galactic planatary nebulae is investigated, all the nebulae are divided into four classes according to the masses of the nebulae and progenitor stars. The values of local abundances, galactic abundances and electron temperature gradients are found for each class of nebulae. The correlations between element abundances are also investigated. The results are compared with theorical predictions.


1969 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 216-217
Author(s):  
A. E. Le Marne ◽  
P. A. Shaver

In a current programme at the Molonglo Radio Observatory using the high-resolution pencil beam of the instrument (∼3′ arc) an attempt is being made to extend the measured spectra of known planetary nebulae down to 408 MHz. Of 23 such planetaries already investigated, 14 have been detected. The main results will be given elsewhere; here it is proposed to discuss in detail only the well-known planetary nebula IC 418.


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