Accurate coordinates of planetary nebulae

Accurate optical coordinates of 734 PNe, measured on the charts of the Digitized Palomar Sky Survey, are presented. As a result of the discussion about the external accuracy the constants –0.8″ in RA and +0.8″ in DEC should be added to the coordinates measured by us. They were used but rounded off already in CGPN(2000). The list and measurements of new 31 candidates of central stars are given which might be interesting for stellar evolution.     

X-ray emission from planetary nebulae calculated by 1D spherical numerical simulations

We calculate the X-ray emission from both constant and time-evolving shocked fast winds blown by the central stars of planetary nebulae (PNe) and compare our calculations with observations. Using spherically symmetric numerical simulations with radiative cooling, we calculate the flow structure and the X-ray temperature and luminosity of the hot bubble formed by the shocked fast wind. We find that a constant fast wind gives results that are very close to those obtained from the self-similar solution. We show that in order for a fast shocked wind to explain the observed X-ray properties of PNe, rapid evolution of the wind is essential. More specifically, the mass-loss rate of the fast wind should be high early on when the speed is  ∼300–700 km s⁻¹  , and then it needs to drop drastically by the time the PN age reaches ∼1000 yr. This implies that the central star has a very short pre-PN (post-asymptotic giant branch) phase.     

[WR] nuclei of planetary nebulae: Inferences from statistical studies of the nebulae

There are about 50 galactic planetary nebulae know to have [WR] type nuclei. We have compared their nebular properties with those of the other planetary nebulae in the Galaxy. We have found that the nebular morphological types are similarly distributed in the two groups. Bipolar nebulae constitute only 20% of the total in each group. The distribution of the nebular electron densities and abundance ratios N/O, He/H and C/O are the same in the two groups. The only marked difference is that nebular expansion velocities are larger in the group of planetary nebulae with [WR] central stars. We argue that the WR phenomenon does not preferentially occur in more massive central stars of planetary nebulae, contrary to what has been suggested in some former studies. We demonstrate that, for most of the observed [WR] type objects, the WR phenomenon cannot be triggered by a late helium shell flash event.The results of our investigation are published inAstronomy & Astrophysics 303, 893 (1995) and in the proceedings of the 2nd International Colloquium on Hydrogen-deficient Stars, C.S. Jeffery & U. Heber (eds), Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, Vol. 96, p. 209 (1996).     

Detecting planets in planetary nebulae

We examine the possibility of detecting signatures of surviving Uranus/Neptune-like planets inside planetary nebulae. Planets that are not too close to the stars (orbital separation larger than ∼5 au) are likely to survive the entire evolution of the star. As the star turns into a planetary nebula, it has a fast wind and strong ionizing radiation. The interaction of the radiation and wind with a planet may lead to the formation of a compact condensation or tail inside the planetary nebula, which emits strongly in H α , but not in [O  iii ]. The position of the condensation (or tail) will change over a time-scale of ∼10 yr. Such condensations might be detected with currently existing telescopes.     

The determination of progenitor masses for planetary nebulae

We have evaluated the likely progenitor masses M _PG of nebulae having elliptical, circular and bipolar morphologies, using observed ratios between the populations of these sources, and deduced central star mass functions. We find that most bipolar nebulae (BPNe) are likely to arise from progenitors having mass M _PG>2.3 M_⊙ and spectral types earlier than A3.2, whilst circular sources are associated with progenitors of mass 1.0 M_⊙< M _PG<1.2 M_⊙ and spectral range G1.9–F7.8 . Elliptical sources arise from intermediate-mass progenitors. The procedures employed to determine these values are relatively insensitive to uncertainties in scaleheights and population ratios, and completely insensitive to uncertainties in the distance scale. They are, however, dependent upon the precise forms adopted for the initial–final and central star mass functions, and we discuss the sensitivity of M _PG to uncertainties in these functions.     

Radially aligned clumps and tails in planetary nebulae

We study the formation of radially aligned condensations and tails through the compression of material inside ionization shadows at early ionization phases of planetary nebulae. A dense clump, formed before ionization starts, forms an ionization shadow behind it. The surroundings, which are ionized before the shadow, have a higher temperature, and as a result compress the material in the shadow, forming a compressed tail. If the compressed tail crosses a dense shell, a dense condensation (clump) is formed there. At later stages this condensation is ionized and observed as a bright knot, radially aligned with the inner clump. We find that for the shadow to be effective, the clump should be already present as the ionization by the central star starts, and its density enhancement should be by a factor of ≳ 5. We propose this mechanism as an explanation for the radially aligned condensations recently found in the planetary nebula IC 4593.     

The radial distribution function in planetary nebulae

We have investigated the variation of planetary nebula number densities as a function of nebular radius, taking account of uncertainties arising from interstellar extinction. We find that the trend is composed of two components: one (a “spike” component) located at radii R < 0.035 pc, and the other (a “plateau” component) extending to larger radii. The plateau component appears to follow a Gaussian fall‐off law with scale radius R₀ = 0.28 pc. It is shown that this latter trend is not consistent with the assumption that larger shells are optically thin and density bounded. Rather, it seems likely thatmany of the larger sources have appreciable Lyman continuum optical depths and are ionization bounded. The deduced variation in N(R) then suggests that the velocities of the ionization fronts increase with radius. The nature of the spike component is less easy to fathom, and this may arise as a result of sharply lower ionization front velocities at radii R < 0.035 pc, or through contraction of the shells following a down‐turn in central star luminosities.     

Spectroscopy of six highly evolved Abell planetary nebulae

We have undertaken visual spectroscopy of the highly evolved planetary nebulae (PNe) A8, A13, A62, A72, A78 and A83 over a wavelength range  4330 < λ < 6830 Å  . This permits us to specify relative line intensities in various sectors of the nebular shells, and to investigate the variation of emission as a function of radius. We determine that the spectrum of the central star of A78 has varied appreciably over a period of 25 yr. There is now evidence for strong P Cygni absorption in the λ4589 and λ5412 transitions of He  ii , implying terminal velocities of the order of   V _∞≅ 3.83 × 10³ km s⁻¹  . We also note that the emission-line profiles of the sources can be used to investigate their intrinsic emission structures. We find that most PNe show appreciable levels of emission throughout their volumes; only one source (A13) possesses a thin-shell structure. Such results are in conformity with evolutionary theory, and probably reflect the consequences of adiabatic cooling in highly evolved outflows.     

Properties of planetary nebulae with WR central stars

A review of the observational properties of the Wolf-Rayet central stars is given.     

The low-excitation structures of planetary nebulae

The low excitation properties of the planetary nebula (PN) NGC 6720 are known to be unusual, and to imply large ring/core emission ratios. We point out that such characteristics are by no means confined to this source alone, and that high ratios may occur in a large fraction of elliptical and circular PNe. Such trends may arise because of the presence of thin low-excitation emission sheets 'wrapped' within and around the primary outflows. The widths of such shells are required to be exceedingly small, and may (for certain cases) be of order ≪10⁻² pc. Such a mechanism appears capable of explaining most of the observed emission properties, and may arise through shock interaction between differing envelopes. Alternative explanations in terms of bipolar or cylindrical outflows are shown to be implausible.     

Dynamical and ionization structure of planetary nebulae in three dimensions. A simulation for NGC3132

Using a numerically accurate radiation-gas dynamical method we investigate the winds scenario for aspherical planetary nebulae (PNe). Our model includes the interaction of two winds: as low high mass-loss rate wind (a `super wind'); and a fast wind; low mass-loss rate wind. Our model also includes the evolution of the UV spectrum of the PNe centeral star. As stated in the section3 of Paper I (Ganbari and Khesali, 2001), we consider a three dimensional density distribution ρ(r,θφ for the super wind, in this way we enter the effects of cooling and heating mechanisms in our model. Taking into account the above assumptions, we introduce the code (DIS3D) and numerically we study the dynamical and ionization properties of the planetary nebula NGC3132. We show that it is possible by simulations to reproduce the shape of PNe in three dimensions, and calculating the physical quantities throughout the entire nebula. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Asymmetry and inhomogeneity in proto- and young planetary nebulae

I study some effects of aspherical mass loss during the last stages of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) on the appearance of proto-planetary nebulae (proto-PNs) and young PNs. The aspherical mass loss can be small-scale inhomogeneities, and/or axially symmetric mass-loss geometry. I first examine the role of the dust opacity in the optical band on the appearance of proto-PNs. I conclude that large optical depths will be found in proto-PNs that are post-AGB stars having high equatorial mass-loss rates, which require a stellar binary companion for their existence. In these cases light from the central star will reach larger distances along and near the polar directions, leading to the appearance of an elongated reflection nebula. These proto-PNs will become bipolar PNs, i.e., PNs with two lobes and an equatorial waist between them, or extreme ellipticals, e.g., a ring but no lobes on the two sides of the equatorial plane. I then derive the conditions for the enhancement of non-radial density inhomogeneity by the propagation of the ionization front at the early PN stages. The ionization will proceed faster in the radial direction along low-density regions. The low-density regions will be heated earlier, and they will expand as a result of their higher pressures, reducing further their densities. The opposite occurs in high-density regions. The condition for this ionization instability to develop is that the ionization time difference between two directions at the same radius is longer than the sound crossing time between these two regions. This condition for the ionization front instability can be expressed as a condition on the mass-loss rate inhomogeneity, i.e., its dependence on direction.     

Classification of planetary nebulae by their departure from axisymmetry

We propose a scheme to classify planetary nebulae (PNe) according to their departure from axisymmetric structure. We consider only departure along and near the equatorial plane, i.e. between the two sides perpendicular to the symmetry axis of the nebula. We consider six types of departure from axisymmetry: (1) PNe where the central star is not at the centre of the nebula; (2) PNe having one side brighter than the other; (3) PNe having unequal size or shape of the two sides; (4) PNe where the symmetry axis is bent, e.g. the two lobes in a bipolar PN are bent toward the same side; (5) PNe where the main departure from axisymmetry is in the outer regions, e.g. an outer arc; and (6) PNe that show no departure from axisymmetry, i.e. any departure, if it exists, is on scales smaller than the scale of blobs, filaments and other irregularities in the nebula. PNe that possess more than one type of departure are classified by the most prominent type. We discuss the connection between departure types and the physical mechanisms that may cause them, mainly resulting from the influence of a stellar binary companion. We find that ∼50 per cent of all PNe in the analysed sample possess large-scale departure from axisymmetry. This number is larger than that expected from the influence of binary companions, namely ∼25–30 per cent. We argue that this discrepancy comes from many PNe where the departure from axisymmetry, mainly unequal size, shape or intensity, results from the presence of long-lived and large (hot or cool) spots on the surface of their asymptotic giant branch progenitors. Such spots locally enhance the mass-loss rate, leading to a departure from axisymmetry, mainly near the equator, in the descendent PN.