The Importance of Binarity in the Formation and Evolution of Planetary Nebulae

Abstract

It is now clear that a binary evolutionary pathway is responsible for a significant fraction of all planetary nebulae, with some authors even going so far as to claim that binarity may be a near requirement for the formation of an observable nebula. In this chapter, we will discuss the theoretical and observational support for the importance of binarity in the formation of planetary nebulae, initially focussing on common envelope evolution but also covering wider binaries. Furthermore, we will highlight the impact that these results have on our understanding of other astrophysical phenomena, including supernovae type Ia, chemically peculiar stars and circumbinary exoplanets. Finally, we will present the latest results with regards to the relationship between post-common-envelope central stars and the abundance discrepancy problem in planetary nebulae, and what further clues this may hold in forwarding our understanding of the common envelope phase itself.