Origin of planetary nebulae - Morphology, carbon-to-oxygen abundance ratios, and central star multiplicity

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (244) References (96) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Origin of Planetary Nebulae: Morphology, Carbon-to-Oxygen Abundance Ratios, and Central Star Multiplicity Zuckerman, B. ; Aller, L. H. Abstract The authors have examined data pertaining to the morphology, carbon-to-oxygen abundance ratio, and central star multiplicity of 139 planetary nebulae (PNs). Among 108 nonstellar PNs, ≡50% display a bipolar symmetry, and an additional ≡30% display elliptical symmetry. Comparison of the sizes of extreme red giant stars and separations of main-sequence, solar-type binary stars suggests that the gravitational field of a companion star is unlikely to be responsible for the mass ejection in all or even a majority of these cases. However, it is perhaps conceivable that a secondary star is responsible for most of the above-mentioned symmetries. Based on optical, ultraviolet, infrared, and radio data, the authors find 42 C-rich and 26 O-rich PNs in the set. These numbers agree with the relative numbers of C- and O-rich red giant stars with large mass loss rates and are consistent with the idea that the progenitors of PNs are this class of red giant stars. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: February 1986 DOI: 10.1086/163943 Bibcode: 1986ApJ...301..772Z Keywords: Abundance; Binary Stars; Planetary Nebulae; Stellar Evolution; Carbon; Main Sequence Stars; Oxygen; Ratios; Red Giant Stars; Stellar Magnitude; Stellar Mass Ejection; Astrophysics; NEBULAE: ABUNDANCES; NEBULAE: PLANETARY; STARS: EVOLUTION full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (138) NED (1)