1,246 research outputs found
Photo-ionization modelling of planetary nebulae -- II. Galactic bulge nebulae, a comparison with literature results
We have constructed photo-ionization models of five galactic bulge planetary
nebulae using our automatic method which enables a fully self-consistent
determination of the physical parameters of a planetary nebula. The models are
constrained using the spectrum, the IRAS and radio fluxes and the angular
diameter of the nebula. We also conducted a literature search for physical
parameters determined with classical methods for these nebulae. Comparison of
the distance independent physical parameters with published data shows that the
stellar temperatures generally are in good agreement and can be considered
reliable. The literature data for the electron temperature, electron density
and also for the abundances show a large spread, indicating that the use of
line diagnostics is not reliable and that the accuracy of these methods needs
to be improved. Comparison of the various abundance determinations indicates
that the uncertainty in the electron temperature is the main source of
uncertainty in the abundance determination. The stellar magnitudes predicted by
the photo-ionization models are in good agreement with observed values.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA
Radio Observations of New Galactic Bulge Planetary Nebulae
We observed 64 newly identified galactic bulge planetary nebulae in the radio
continuum at 3 and 6 cm with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. We present
their radio images, positions, flux densities, and angular sizes. The survey
appears to have detected a larger ratio of more extended planetary nebulae with
low surface brightness than in previous surveys. We calculated their distances
according to Van de Steene & Zijlstra (1995). We find that most of the new
sample is located on the near side around the galactic center and closer in
than the previously known bulge PNe. Based on H-alpha images and spectroscopic
data, we calculated the total H-alpha flux. We compare this flux value with the
radio flux density and derive the extinction. We confirm that the distribution
of the extinction values around the galactic center rises toward the center, as
expected.Comment: accepted for publication in A&
The H II Region/PDR Connection: Self-Consistent Calculations of Physical Conditions in Star-Forming Regions
We have performed a series of calculations designed to reproduce infrared
diagnostics used to determine physical conditions in star forming regions. We
self-consistently calculate the thermal and chemical structure of an H II
region and photodissociation region (PDR) that are in pressure equilibrium.
This differs from previous work, which used separate calculations for each gas
phase. Our calculations span a wide range of stellar temperatures, gas
densities, and ionization parameters. We describe improvements made to the
spectral synthesis code Cloudy that made these calculations possible. These
include the addition of a molecular network with ~1000 reactions involving 68
molecular species and improved treatment of the grain physics. Data from the
Spitzer First Look Survey, along with other archives, are used to derive
important physical characteristics of the H II region and PDR. These include
stellar temperatures, electron densities, ionization parameters, UV radiation
flux, and PDR density. Finally, we calculate the contribution of the H II
region to PDR emission line diagnostics, which allows for a more accurate
determination of physical conditions in the PDR.Comment: 60 pages, 35 figures, to be published in the Astrophysical Journal.
Version with full resolution is available at
http://www.pa.uky.edu/~nicholas/hii_pdr_high_res.pd
Static and dynamic characterization of pull-in protected CMOS compatible poly-SiGe grating light valves
status: publishe
Properties of Dust Grains in Planetary Nebulae -- I. The Ionized Region of NGC 6445
In this paper we study new infrared spectra of the evolved planetary nebula
NGC 6445 obtained with ISO. These data show that the thermal emission from the
grains is very cool and has a low flux compared to H beta. A model of the
ionized region is constructed, using the photo-ionization code CLOUDY 90.05.
Based on this model, we show from depletions in the gas phase elements that
little grain destruction can have occurred in the ionized region of NGC 6445.
We also argue that dust-gas separation in the nebula is not plausible. The most
likely conclusion is that grains are residing inside the ionized region of NGC
6445 and that the low temperature and flux of the grain emission are caused by
the low luminosity of the central star and the low optical depth of the grains.
This implies that the bulk of the silicon-bearing grains in this nebula were
able to survive exposure to hard UV photons for at least several thousands of
years, contradicting previously published results. A comparison between optical
and infrared diagnostic line ratios gives a marginal indication for the
presence of a t^2-effect in the nebula. However, the evidence is not convincing
and other explanations for the discrepancy are also plausible. The off-source
spectrum taken with ISO-LWS clearly shows the presence of a warm cirrus
component with a temperature of 24 K as well as a very cold component with a
temperature of 7 K. Since our observation encompasses only a small region of
the sky, it is not clear how extended the 7 K component is and whether it
contributed significantly to the FIRAS spectrum taken by COBE. Because our line
of sight is in the galactic plane, the very cold component could be a starless
core.Comment: 36 pages, 8 tables, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
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