Abstract

AbstractWe have performed a study of 3.3 micron PAH emission in planetary nebulae using ground-based observations with FLITECAM, one of a suite of instruments designed for airborne astronomy aboard SOFIA, NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. The survey was performed on the Shane 3 meter telescope at Lick Observatory as part of the ground-based commissioning of the FLITECAM grism spectroscopy mode. Spectral resolution of R ~ 1700 was obtained with direct-ruled KRS-5 grisms. Targets included AGB stars and sources showing PAH emission in KAO, ISO or IRAS observations. Additionally, several oxygen-rich nebulae were observed in order to test methodology. Twenty objects were surveyed, of which 11 showed PAH emission. In objects exhibiting PAH emission, the relationship between the nebular C/O ratio and PAH equivalent width was found, showing a detectable PAH emission cutoff at a nebular C/O ratio of 0.65 ± 0.28. Selected objects with detected PAH emission were further investigated to trace PAH emission spectral variation within individual nebulae.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.