The evolution of planetary nebulae VII. Modelling planetary nebulae of distant stellar systems

By means of hydrodynamical models we do the first investigations of how the properties of planetary nebulae are affected by their metal content and what can be learned from spatially unresolved spectrograms of planetary nebulae in distant stellar systems. We computed a new series of 1D radiation-hydrodynamics planetary nebulae model sequences with central stars of 0.595 M_sun surrounded by initial envelope structures that differ only by their metal content. At selected phases along the evolutionary path, the hydrodynamic terms were switched off, allowing the models to relax for fixed radial structure and radiation field into their equilibrium state with respect to energy and ionisation. The analyses of the line spectra emitted from both the dynamical and static models enabled us to systematically study the influence of hydrodynamics as a function of metallicity and evolution. We also recomputed selected sequences already used in previous publications, but now with different metal abundances. These sequences were used to study the expansion properties of planetary nebulae close to the bright cut-off of the planetary nebula luminosity function. Our simulations show that the metal content strongly influences the expansion of planetary nebulae: the lower the metal content, the weaker the pressure of the stellar wind bubble, but the faster the expansion of the outer shell because of the higher electron temperature. This is in variance with the predictions of the interacting-stellar-winds model (or its variants) according to which only the central-star wind is thought to be responsible for driving the expansion of a planetary nebula. Metal-poor objects around slowly evolving central stars become very dilute and are prone to depart from thermal equilibrium because then adiabatic expansion contributes to gas cooling. ...abridged abstract.Comment: 35 pages, 43 figures, accepted for publication by A&

Three-component modeling of C-rich AGB star winds. II. The effects of drift in long-period variables

We present three-component wind models for carbon rich pulsating AGB stars. In particular we study the effects of drift in models of long-period variables, meaning that the dust is allowed to move relative to the gas (drift models). In addition we investigate the importance of the degree of variability of the wind structures. The wind model contains separate conservation laws for each of the three components of gas, dust and the radiation field. We use two different representations for the gas opacity, resulting in models with different gas densities in the wind. The effects which we investigate here are important for the understanding of the wind mechanism and mass loss of AGB stars. This study is hereby a necessary step towards more reliable interpretations of observations. We find that the effects of drift generally are significant. They cannot be predicted from models calculated without drift. Moreover, the non-drift models showing the lowest mass loss rates, outflow velocities, and the smallest variability in the degree of condensation do not form drift model winds. The wind formation in drift models is, except for a few cases, generally less efficient and the mass loss consequently lower than in the corresponding non-drift models. The effects of drift are generally larger in the more realistic models using that representation of the gas opacity which results in lower densities. The outflow properties of these models are also -- for all cases we have studied -- sensitive to the period of the stellar pulsations. A check of the mass loss rates against a (recent) fit formula shows systematically lower values, in particular in the more realistic models with a low density. The fit is in its current form inapplicable to the new models presented here.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, accepted by A&

Weak magnetic fields in central stars of planetary nebulae?

It is not yet clear whether magnetic fields play an essential role in shaping planetary nebulae (PNe), or whether stellar rotation alone and/or a close binary companion can account for the variety of the observed nebular morphologies. In a quest for empirical evidence verifying or disproving the role of magnetic fields in shaping PNe, we follow up on previous attempts to measure the magnetic field in a representative sample of PN central stars. We obtained low-resolution polarimetric spectra with FORS 2 at VLT for a sample of twelve bright central stars of PNe with different morphology, including two round nebulae, seven elliptical nebulae, and three bipolar nebulae. Two targets are Wolf-Rayet type central stars. For the majority of the observed central stars, we do not find any significant evidence for the existence of surface magnetic fields. However, our measurements may indicate the presence of weak mean longitudinal magnetic fields of the order of 100 Gauss in the central star of the young elliptical planetary nebula IC 418, as well as in the Wolf-Rayet type central star of the bipolar nebula Hen2-113 and the weak emission line central star of the elliptical nebula Hen2-131. A clear detection of a 250 G mean longitudinal field is achieved for the A-type companion of the central star of NGC 1514. Some of the central stars show a moderate night-to-night spectrum variability, which may be the signature of a variable stellar wind and/or rotational modulation due to magnetic features. We conclude that strong magnetic fields of the order of kG are not widespread among PNe central stars. Nevertheless, simple estimates based on a theoretical model of magnetized wind bubbles suggest that even weak magnetic fields below the current detection limit of the order of 100 G may well be sufficient to contribute to the shaping of PNe throughout their evolution.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in A&A; References updated, minor correction

p3d: a general data-reduction tool for fiber-fed integral-field spectrographs

The reduction of integral-field spectrograph (IFS) data is demanding work. Many repetitive operations are required in order to convert raw data into, typically a large number of, spectra. This effort can be markedly simplified through the use of a tool or pipeline, which is designed to complete many of the repetitive operations without human interaction. Here we present our semi-automatic data-reduction tool p3d that is designed to be used with fiber-fed IFSs. Important components of p3d include a novel algorithm for automatic finding and tracing of spectra on the detector, and two methods of optimal spectrum extraction in addition to standard aperture extraction. p3d also provides tools to combine several images, perform wavelength calibration and flat field data. p3d is at the moment configured for four IFSs. In order to evaluate its performance we have tested the different components of the tool. For these tests we used both simulated and observational data. We demonstrate that for three of the IFSs a correction for so-called cross-talk due to overlapping spectra on the detector is required. Without such a correction spectra will be inaccurate, in particular if there is a significant intensity gradient across the object. Our tests showed that p3d is able to produce accurate results. p3d is a highly general and freely available tool. It is easily extended to include improved algorithms, new visualization tools and support for additional instruments. The program code can be downloaded from the p3d-project web site http://p3d.sourceforge.netComment: 18 pages, 15 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in A&

Tilted two-fluid Bianchi type I models

In this paper we investigate expanding Bianchi type I models with two tilted fluids with the same linear equation of state, characterized by the equation of state parameter w. Individually the fluids have non-zero energy fluxes w.r.t. the symmetry surfaces, but these cancel each other because of the Codazzi constraint. We prove that when w=0 the model isotropizes to the future. Using numerical simulations and a linear analysis we also find the asymptotic states of models with w>0. We find that future isotropization occurs if and only if $w \leq 1/3$. The results are compared to similar models investigated previously where the two fluids have different equation of state parameters.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

Perfect fluids and generic spacelike singularities

We present the conformally 1+3 Hubble-normalized field equations together with the general total source equations, and then specialize to a source that consists of perfect fluids with general barotropic equations of state. Motivating, formulating, and assuming certain conjectures, we derive results about how the properties of fluids (equations of state, momenta, angular momenta) and generic spacelike singularities affect each other.Comment: Considerable changes have been made in presentation and arguments, resulting in sharper conclusion

Measuring The Mass Loss Evolution at The Tip of The Asymptotic Giant Branch

In the final stages of stellar evolution low- to intermediate-mass stars lose their envelope in increasingly massive stellar winds. Such winds affect the interstellar medium and the galactic chemical evolution as well as the circumstellar envelope where planetary nebulae form subsequently. Characteristics of this mass loss depend on both stellar properties and properties of gas and dust in the wind formation region. In this paper we present an approach towards studies of mass loss using both observations and models, focusing on the stage where the stellar envelope is nearly empty of mass. In a recent study we measure the mass-loss evolution, and other properties, of four planetary nebulae in the Galactic Disk. Specifically we use the method of integral field spectroscopy on faint halos, which are found outside the much brighter central parts of a planetary nebula. We begin with a brief comparison between our and other observational methods to determine mass-loss rates in order to illustrate how they differ and complement each other. An advantage of our method is that it measures the gas component directly requiring no assumptions of properties of dust in the wind. Thereafter we present our observational approach in more detail in terms of its validity and its assumptions. In the second part of this paper we discuss capabilities and assumptions of current models of stellar winds. We propose and discuss improvements to such models that will allow meaningful comparisons with our observations. Currently the physically most complete models include too little mass in the model domain to permit a formation of winds with as high mass-loss rates as our observations show.Comment: 7 pages, workshop in honour of Agnes Acker, Legacies of the Macquarie/AAO/Strasbourg Halpha Planetary Nebula project, ed. Q.Parker and D.Frew, PASA, in press; clarified some parts and added some additional reference

On the Epistemology of the Precautionary Principle: Reply to Steglich-Petersen

In a recent paper in this journal, we proposed two novel puzzles associated with the precautionary principle. Both are puzzles that materialise, we argue, once we investigate the principle through an epistemological lens, and each constitutes a philosophical hurdle for any proponent of a plausible version of the precautionary principle. Steglich-Petersen claims, also in this journal, that he has resolved our puzzles. In this short note, we explain why we remain skeptica