BINARY CENTRAL STARS OF PLANETARY NEBULAE DISCOVERED THROUGH PHOTOMETRIC VARIABILITY. V. THE CENTRAL STARS OF HaTr 7 AND ESO 330-9

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The post-common-envelope binary central star of the planetary nebula PN G283.7-05.1

We present the discovery and characterisation of the post-common-envelope central star system in the planetary nebula PN G283.7-05.1. Deep images taken as part of the POPIPlaN survey indicate that the nebula may possess a bipolar morphology similar to other post-common-envelope planetary nebulae. Simultaneous light and radial velocity curve modelling reveals that the newly discovered binary system comprises a highly irradiated M-type main-sequence star in a 5.9-hour orbit with a hot pre-white dwarf. The nebular progenitor is found to have a particularly low mass of around 0.4 M, making PN G283.7-05.1 one of only a handful of candidate planetary nebulae that is the product of a common-envelope event while still on the red giant branch. In addition to its low mass, the model temperature, surface gravity, and luminosity are all found to be consistent with the observed stellar and nebular spectra through comparison with model atmospheres and photoionisation modelling. However, the high temperature (Teff ∼ 95 kK) and high luminosity of the central star of the nebula are not consistent with post-RGB evolutionary tracks

BINARY CENTRAL STARS OF PLANETARY NEBULAE DISCOVERED THROUGH PHOTOMETRIC VARIABILITY. IV. THE CENTRAL STARS OF HaTr 4 AND Hf 2-2

We explore the photometrically variable central stars of the planetary nebulae HaTr 4 and Hf 2-2. Both have been classified as close binary star systems previously based on their light curves alone. Here, we present additional arguments and data confirming the identification of both as close binaries with an irradiated cool companion to the hot central star. We include updated light curves, orbital periods, and preliminary binary modeling for both systems. We also identify for the first time the central star of HaTr 4 as an eclipsing binary. Neither system has been well studied in the past, but we utilize the small amount of existing data to limit possible binary parameters, including system inclination. These parameters are then compared to nebular parameters to further our knowledge of the relationship between binary central stars of planetary nebulae and nebular shaping and ejection

Testing the Binary Hypothesis for the Formation and Shaping of Planetary Nebulae

There is no quantitative theory to explain why a high 80% of all planetary nebulae are non-spherical. The Binary Hypothesis states that a companion to the progenitor of a central star of planetary nebula is required to shape the nebula and even for a planetary nebula to be formed at all. A way to test this hypothesis is to estimate the binary fraction of central stars of planetary nebulae and to compare it with that of the main sequence population. Preliminary results from photometric variability and the infrared excess techniques indicate that the binary fraction of central stars of planetary nebulae is higher than that of the main sequence, implying that PNe could preferentially form via a binary channel. This article briefly reviews these results and current studies aiming to refine the binary fraction

Testing the Binary Hypothesis for the Formation and Shaping of Planetary Nebulae

There is no quantitative theory to explain why a high 80% of all planetary nebulae are non-spherical. The Binary Hypothesis states that a companion to the progenitor of a central star of planetary nebula is required to shape the nebula and even for a planetary nebula to be formed at all. A way to test this hypothesis is to estimate the binary fraction of central stars of planetary nebulae and to compare it with that of the main sequence population. Preliminary results from photometric variability and the infrared excess techniques indicate that the binary fraction of central stars of planetary nebulae is higher than that of the main sequence, implying that PNe could preferentially form via a binary channel. This article briefly reviews these results and current studies aiming to refine the binary fraction