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Register a new userThe discovery and characterisation of binary central stars in planetary nebulae
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David Jones
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Close binary central stars of planetary nebulae are key in constraining the poorly-understood common-envelope phase of evolution, which in turn is critical in understanding the formation of a wide-range of astrophysical phenomena (including cataclysmic variables, low-mass X-ray binaries and supernovae type Ia). Here, I present the results of our on-going, targeted search for close-binaries in planetary nebulae which has led to the discovery of more than 10 new central binaries in just the last few years (almost the same as the total discovered during the 1980s and 1990s together). This success has been rooted in the targeted selection of objects for study, based on morphological features deemed typical of binarity, as well as novel observing strategies (including the employment of narrow-band filters for photometry to minimise nebular contamination), both of which are discussed. These new discoveries, coupled with the painstaking characterisation of both newly discovered systems and those from the literature, mean that we are now in a position to begin to probe the physics of the common-envelope phase.
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During the past 20 years, the idea that non-spherical planetary nebulae (PN) may need a binary or planetary interaction to be shaped was discussed by various authors. It is now generally agreed that the varied morphologies of PN cannot be fully explained solely by single star evolution. Observationally, more binary central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPN) have been discovered, opening new possibilities to understand the connections between binarity and morphology. So far, simeq 45 binary CSPN have been detected, most being close systems detected via flux variability. To determine the PN binary fraction, one needs a method to detect wider binaries. We present here recent results obtained with the various techniques described, concentrating on binary infrared excess observations aimed at detecting binaries of any separation.
It is now clear that a binary formation pathway is responsible for a significant fraction of planetary nebulae, and this increased sample of known binaries means that we are now in a position to begin to constrain their influence on the formation and evolution of their host nebulae. Here, we will review current understanding of how binarity influences the resulting nebulae, based on observations and modelling of both the central binary systems and the planetary nebulae themselves. We will also highlight the most important test-cases which have proved the most interesting in studying the evolution of binaries into and through the planetary nebula phase.
The Kepler Observatory offers unprecedented photometric precision (<1 mmag) and cadence for monitoring the central stars of planetary nebulae, allowing the detection of tiny periodic light curve variations, a possible signature of binarity. With this precision free from the observational gaps dictated by weather and lunar cycles, we are able to detect companions at much larger separations and with much smaller radii than ever before. We have been awarded observing time to obtain light-curves of the central stars of the six confirmed and possible planetary nebulae in the Kepler field, including the newly discovered object Kn 61, at cadences of both 30 min and 1 min. Of these six objects, we could confirm for three a periodic variability consistent with binarity. Two others are variables, but the initial data set presents only weak periodicities. For the central star of Kn 61, Kepler data will be available in the near future.
We present the identification of 34 likely binary central stars (CSs) of planetary nebulae (PNe) from {it Kepler/K2} data, seven of which show eclipses. Of these, 29 are new discoveries. Two additional CSs with more complicated variability are also presented. We examined the light curves of all `possible, `likely and `true PNe in every {it Kepler/K2} campaign (0 through 19) to identify CS variability that may indicate a binary CS. For Campaigns 0, 2, 7, 15, and 16 we find 6 likely or confirmed variables among 21 PNe. Our primary effort, though, was focused on Campaign 11 which targeted a Galactic bulge field containing approximately 183 PNe, in which we identified 30 candidate variable CSs. The periods of these variables range from 2.3~h to 30~d, and based on our analysis, most are likely to be close binary star systems. We present periods and preliminary classifications (eclipsing, double degenerate, or irradiated systems) for the likely binaries based on light curve shape. From our total sample of 204 target PNe, with a correction for incompleteness due to magnitude limits, we calculate a binary fraction of PN central stars to be 20.7 percent for all the observed PNe, or 23.5 percent if we limit our sample only to `true PNe. However these fractions are almost certainly lower limits due to the large angular size of the emph{Kepler} pixels, which leads to reduced sensitivity in detecting variability, primarily as a result of dilution and noise from the nebula and neighbouring stars. We discuss the binary population of CSs based on these results as part of the total known sample of close binary CSs.
While most of the low-mass stars stay hydrogen-rich on their surface throughout their evolution, a considerable fraction of white dwarfs as well as central stars of planetary nebulae have a hydrogen-deficient surface composition. The majority of these H-deficient central stars exhibit spectra very similar to massive Wolf-Rayet stars of the carbon sequence, i.e. with broad emission lines of carbon, helium, and oxygen. In analogy to the massive Wolf-Rayet stars, they are classified as [WC] stars. Their formation, which is relatively well understood, is thought to be the result of a (very) late thermal pulse of the helium burning shell. It is therefore surprising that some H-deficient central stars which have been found recently, e.g. IC 4663 and Abell 48, exhibit spectra that resemble those of the massive Wolf-Rayet stars of the nitrogen sequence, i.e. with strong emission lines of nitrogen instead of carbon. This new type of central stars is therefore labelled [WN]. We present spectral analyses of these objects and discuss the status of further candidates as well as the evolutionary status and origin of the [WN] stars.
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