234 research outputs found
Planetary nebulae abundances and stellar evolution
A summary is given of planetary nebulae abundances from ISO measurements. It
is shown that these nebulae show abundance gradients (with galactocentric
distance), which in the case of neon, argon, sulfur and oxygen (with four
exceptions) are the same as HII regions and early type star abundance
gradients. The abundance of these elements predicted from these gradients at
the distance of the Sun from the center are exactly the solar abundance. Sulfur
is the exception to this; the reason for this is discussed. The higher solar
neon abundance is confirmed; this is discussed in terms of the results of
helioseismology. Evidence is presented for oxygen destruction via ON cycling
having occurred in the progenitors of four planetary nebulae with bilobal
structure. These progenitor stars had a high mass, probably greater than 5
solar masses. This is deduced from the high values of He/H and N/H found in
these nebulae. Formation of nitrogen, helium and carbon are discussed. The high
mass progenitors which showed oxygen destruction are shown to have probably
destroyed carbon as well. This is probably the result of hot bottom burning.Comment: 9 pages, 2 Tables, 8 figures, A&A in pres
Abundances of Planetary Nebula M1-42
The spectra of the planetary nebula M1-42 is reanalysed using spectral
measurements made in the mid-infrared with the Spitzer Space Telescope. The aim
is to determine the chemical composition of this object. We also make use of
ISO, IUE and ground based spectra. Abundances determined from the mid- and
far-infrared lines, which are insensitive to electron temperature, are used as
the basis for the determination of the composition, which are found to
substantially differ from earlier results. High values of neon, argon and
sulfur are found. They are higher than in other PN, with the exception of
NGC6153, a nebula of very similar abundances. The high values of helium and
nitrogen found indicate that the second dredge-up and hot bottom burning has
occurred in the course of evolution and that the central star was originally
more massive than 4Msun. The present temperature and luminosity of the central
star is determined and at first sight may be inconsistent with such a high
mass.Comment: 9 pages, 8 tables, 1 figure. Accepted for publication in A&
Planetary nebulae abundances and stellar evolution II
Context: In recent years mid- and far infrared spectra of planetary nebulae
have been analysed and lead to more accurate abundances. It may be expected
that these better abundances lead to a better understanding of the evolution of
these objects. Aims: The observed abundances in planetary nebulae are compared
to those predicted by the models of Karakas (2003) in order to predict the
progenitor masses of the various PNe used. The morphology of the PNe is
included in the comparison. Since the central stars play an important role in
the evolution, it is expected that this comparison will yield additional
information about them. Methods: First the nitrogen/oxygen ratio is discussed
with relation to the helium/hydrogen ratio. The progenitor mass for each PNe
can be found by a comparison with the models of Karakas. Then the present
luminosity of the central stars is determined in two ways: first by computing
the central star effective temperature and radius, and second by computing the
nebular luminosity from the hydrogen and helium lines. This luminosity is also
a function of the initial mass so that these two values of initial mass can be
compared. Results: Six of the seven bipolar nebulae can be identified as
descendants of high mass stars (4Msun - 6Msun) while the seventh is ambiguous.
Most of the elliptical PNe have central stars which descend from low initial
mass stars, although there are a few caveats which are discussed. There is no
observational evidence for a higher mass for central stars which have a high
carbon/oxygen ratio. The evidence provided by the abundance comparison with the
models of Karakas is consistent with the HR diagram to which it is compared. In
the course of this discussion it is shown how `optically thin' nebulae can be
separated from those which are 'optically thick'.Comment: 12 pages, 4 tables, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in A&
Neon, sulphur and argon abundances of planetary nebulae in the sub-solar metallicity Galactic anti-centre
Context: Spectra of planetary nebulae show numerous fine structure emission lines from ionic species, enabling us to study the overall abundances of the nebular material that is ejected into the interstellar medium. The abundances derived from planetary nebula emission show the presence of a metallicity gradient within the disk of the Milky Way up to Galactocentric distances of ⌠10 kpc, which are consistent with findings from studies of different types of sources, including H II regions and young B-type stars. The radial dependence of these abundances further from the Galactic centre is in dispute.
Aims: We aim to derive the abundances of neon, sulphur and argon from a sample of planetary nebulae towards the Galactic anti- centre, which represent the abundances of the clouds from which they were formed, as they remain unchanged throughout the course of stellar evolution. We then aim to compare these values with similarly analysed data from elsewhere in the Milky Way in order to observe whether the abundance gradient continues in the outskirts of our Galaxy.
Methods: We have observed 23 planetary nebulae at Galactocentric distances of 8â21 kpc with Spitzer IRS. The abundances were calculated from infrared emission lines, for which we observed the main ionisation states of neon, sulphur, and argon, which are little affected by extinction and uncertainties in temperature measurements or fluctuations within the planetary nebula. We have complemented these observations with others from optical studies in the literature, in order to reduce or avoid the need for ionisation correction factors in abundance calculations.
Results: The overall abundances of our sample of planetary nebulae in the Galactic anti-centre are lower than those in the solar neighbourhood. The abundances of neon, sulphur, and argon from these stars are consistent with a metallicity gradient from the solar neighbourhood up to Galactocentric distances of ⌠20 kpc, albeit with varying degrees of dispersion within the data
Abundances in planetary nebulae: NGC1535, NGC6629, He2-108, and Tc1
The aim of the paper is to determine abundances in a group of PNe with
uniform morphology. The PNe discussed are circular excited by rather
low-temperature central stars. The relation between abundance and evolution is
discussed. The mid-infrared spectra of NGC1535, NGC6629, He2-108 and Tc1 taken
with the Spitzer Space Telescope are presented. These spectra are combined with
IUE and visual spectra to obtain complete extinction-corrected spectra from
which the abundances are determined. These abundances are more accurate for
several reasons, the most important is that the inclusion of the far infrared
spectra increases the number of observed ions and makes it possible to include
the nebular temperature gradient in the abundance calculation. The abundances
of these PNe are compared to those found in five other PNe of similar
properties and are further compared with predictions of evolutionary models.
From this comparison we conclude that these PNe originated from low mass stars,
probably between 1 and 2.5 solar masses and at present have core masses between
0.56 and 0.63 solar masses. A consistent description of the evolution of this
class of PNe is found that agrees with the predictions of the present nebular
abundances, the individual masses and the luminosities of these PNe. The
distances to these nebulae can be found as well.Comment: 17 pages, 18 tables, 1 figure, Accepted for publication in A&
Filaments as Possible Signatures of Magnetic Field Structure in Planetary Nebulae
We draw attention to the extreme filamentary structures seen in
high-resolution optical images of certain planetary nebulae. We determine the
physical properties of the filaments in the nebulae IC 418, NGC 3132, and NGC
6537, and based on their large length-to-width ratios, longitudinal coherence,
and morphology, we suggest that they may be signatures of the underlying
magnetic field. The fields needed for the coherence of the filaments are
probably consistent with those measured in the precursor circumstellar
envelopes. The filaments suggest that magnetic fields in planetary nebulae may
have a localized and thread-like geometry.Comment: 26 pages with 7 figures. To be published in PASP. For full resolution
images see http://physics.nyu.edu/~pjh
Massive expanding torus and fast outflow in planetary nebula NGC 6302
We present interferometric observations of CO and CO =21
emission from the butterfly-shaped, young planetary nebula NGC 6302. The high
angular resolution and high sensitivity achieved in our observations allow us
to resolve the nebula into two distinct kinematic components: (1) a massive
expanding torus seen almost edge-on and oriented in the North-South direction,
roughly perpendicular to the optical nebula axis. The torus exhibits very
complex and fragmentated structure; (2) high velocity molecular knots moving at
high velocity, higher than 20 \kms, and located in the optical bipolar lobes.
These knots show a linear position-velocity gradient (Hubble-like flow), which
is characteristic of fast molecular outflow in young planetary nebulae. From
the low but variable CO/CO =21 line intensity ratio we
conclude that the CO =21 emission is optically thick over much of
the nebula. Using the optically thinner line CO =21 we estimate a
total molecular gas mass of 0.1 M, comparable to the ionized gas
mass; the total gas mass of the NGC 6302 nebula, including the massive ionized
gas from photon dominated region, is found to be 0.5 M. From
radiative transfer modelling we infer that the torus is seen at inclination
angle of 75 with respect to the plane of the sky and expanding at
velocity of 15 \kms. Comparison with recent observations of molecular gas in
NGC 6302 is also discussed.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical
Journa
Spectroscopy of the post-AGB star HD 101584(IRAS 11385-5517)
From an analysis of the spectrum (4000\AA to 8800\AA) of HD~101584 it is
found that most of the neutral and single ionized metallic lines are in
emission. The forbidden emission lines of [OI] 6300\AA and 6363\AA and [CI]
8727\AA are detected, which indicate the presence of a very low excitation
nebula. The H, FeII 6383\AA, NaI D, D lines and the CaII IR
triplet lines show P-Cygni profiles indicating a mass outflow. The H
line shows many velocity components in the profile. The FeII 6383\AA also has
almost the same line profile as the H line indicating that they are
formed in the same region. From the spectrum synthesis analysis we find the
atmospheric parameters to be T=8500K, log g=1.5,
V=13km~s and [Fe/H]=0.0. From an analysis of the absorption
lines the photospheric abundances of some of the elements are derived. Carbon
and nitrogen are found to be overabundant. From the analysis of Fe emission
lines we derived T=6100K200 for the emission line region.Comment: To appear in A&A, 15 pages, 11 figure
Abundances of planetary nebulae in the Galactic bulge
Context. Planetary nebulae (PNe) abundances are poorly known for those nebulae in the Galactic bulge. This is because of the high and uneven extinction in the bulge which makes visual spectral measurements difficult. In addition, the extinction corrections may be unreliable. Elements considered are O, N, Ne, S, Ar, and Cl.
Aims. We determine the abundances in 19 PNe, 18 of which are located in the bulge. This doubles the number of PNe abundance determinations in the bulge. The Galactic abundance gradient is discussed for five elements.
Methods. The mid-infrared spectra measured by the Spitzer Space Telescope are used to determine the abundances. This part of the spectrum is little affected by extinction for which an uncertain correction is no longer necessary. In addition the connection with the visible and ultraviolet spectrum becomes simpler because hydrogen lines are observed both in the infrared and in the visible spectra. In this way we more than double the number of PNe with reliable abundances.
Results. Reliable abundances are obtained for O, N, Ne, S, and Ar for Galactic bulge PNe.
Conclusions. The Galactic abundance gradient is less steep than previously thought. This is especially true for oxygen. The sulfur abundance is reliable because all stages of ionization expected have been measured. It is not systematically low compared to oxygen as has been found for some Galactic PNe
A Possible Hidden Population of Spherical Planetary Nebulae
We argue that relative to non-spherical planetary nebulae (PNs), spherical
PNs are about an order of magnitude less likely to be detected, at distances of
several kiloparsecs. Noting the structure similarity of halos around
non-spherical PNs to that of observed spherical PNs, we assume that most
unobserved spherical PNs are also similar in structure to the spherical halos
around non-spherical PNs. The fraction of non-spherical PNs with detected
spherical halos around them, taken from a recent study, leads us to the claim
of a large (relative to that of non-spherical PNs) hidden population of
spherical PNs in the visible band. Building a toy model for the luminosity
evolution of PNs, we show that the claimed detection fraction of spherical PNs
based on halos around non-spherical PNs, is compatible with observational
sensitivities. We use this result to update earlier studies on the different PN
shaping routes in the binary model. We estimate that ~30% of all PNs are
spherical, namely, their progenitors did not interact with any binary
companion. This fraction is to be compared with the ~3% fraction of observed
spherical PNs among all observed PNs. From all PNs, ~15% owe their moderate
elliptical shape to the interaction of their progenitors with planets, while
\~55% of all PNs owe their elliptical or bipolar shapes to the interaction of
their progenitors with stellar companions.Comment: AJ, in pres
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