2013MNRAS.434.1513D -
Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 434, 1513-1530 (2013/September-2)
Observations and three-dimensional ionization structure of the planetary nebula SuWt 2.
DANEHKAR A., PARKER Q.A. and ERCOLANO B.
Abstract (from CDS):
The planetary nebula SuWt 2 (PN G311.0+02.4) is an unusual object with a prominent, inclined central emission ellipse and faint bipolar extensions. It has two A-type stars in a proven binary system at the centre. However, the radiation from these two central stars is too soft to ionize the surrounding material leading to a so far fruitless search for the responsible ionizing source. Such a source is clearly required and has already been inferred to exist via an observed temporal variation of the centre-of-mass velocity of the A-type stars. Moreover, the ejected nebula is nitrogen rich which raises question about the mass-loss process from a likely intermediate-mass progenitor. We use optical integral-field spectroscopy to study the emission lines of the inner nebula ring. This has enabled us to perform an empirical analysis of the optical collisionally excited lines, together with a fully three-dimensional photoionization modelling. Our empirical results are used to constrain the photoionization models, which determine the evolutionary stage of the responsible ionizing source and its likely progenitor. The time-scale for the evolutionary track of a hydrogen-rich model atmosphere is inconsistent with the dynamical age obtained for the ring. This suggests that the central star has undergone a very late thermal pulse. We conclude that the ionizing star could be hydrogen deficient and compatible with what is known as a PG 1159-type star. The evolutionary tracks for the very late thermal pulse models imply a central star mass of ∼ 0.64M☉, which originated from an ∼ 3M☉ progenitor. The evolutionary time-scales suggest that the central star left the asymptotic giant branch about 25 000 yr ago, which is consistent with the nebula's age.
Abstract Copyright:
© 2013 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society (2013)
Journal keyword(s):
ISM: abundances - planetary nebulae: individual: PN SuWt 2
Simbad objects:
14
Full paper
View the references in ADS
To bookmark this query, right click on this link: simbad:2013MNRAS.434.1513D and select 'bookmark this link' or equivalent in the popup menu