Over a hundred planetary nebulae (PNe) are known to have H-deficient central stars that mimic the spectroscopic appearance of massive Wolf-Rayet stars. The formation of these low-mass Wolf-Rayet stars, denoted [WR] stars, remains poorly understood. W
hile several binary formation scenarios have been proposed, there are too few [WR] binaries known to determine their feasibility. Out of nearly 50 post-common-envelope (post-CE) binary central stars known, only PN G222.8$-$04.2 ([WC7], $P=1.26$ d) and NGC 5189 ([WO1], $P=4.05$ d) have a [WR] component. The available data suggests that post-CE central stars with [WR] components lack main sequence companions and have a wider orbital separation than typical post-CE binaries. There is also some indirect evidence for wide binaries that could potentially lead to the discovery of more [WR] binaries.
Nearly 50 post-common-envelope (post-CE) close binary central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPNe) are now known. Most contain either main sequence or white dwarf (WD) companions that orbit the WD primary in around 0.1-1.0 days. Only PN~G222.8-04.2 and
NGC~5189 have post-CE CSPNe with a Wolf-Rayet star primary (denoted [WR]), the low-mass analogues of massive Wolf-Rayet stars. It is not well understood how H-deficient [WR] CSPNe form, even though they are relatively common, appearing in over 100 PNe. The discovery and characterisation of post-CE [WR] CSPNe is essential to determine whether proposed binary formation scenarios are feasible to explain this enigmatic class of stars. The existence of post-CE [WR] binaries alone suggests binary mergers are not necessarily a pathway to form [WR] stars. Here we give an overview of the initial results of a radial velocity monitoring programme of [WR] CSPNe to search for new binaries. We discuss the motivation for the survey and the associated strong selection effects. The mass functions determined for PN~G222.8-04.2 and NGC~5189, together with literature photometric variability data of other [WR] CSPNe, suggest that of the post-CE [WR] CSPNe yet to be found, most will have WD or subdwarf O/B-type companions in wider orbits than typical post-CE CSPNe (several days or months c.f. less than a day).
Classical barium stars are binary systems which consist of a late-type giant enriched in carbon and slow neutron capture (s-process) elements and an evolved white dwarf (WD) that is invisible at optical wavelengths. The youngest observed barium stars
are surrounded by planetary nebulae (PNe), ejected soon after the wind accretion of polluted material when the WD was in its preceeding asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase. Such systems are rare but powerful laboratories for studying AGB nucleosynthesis as we can measure the chemical abundances of both the polluted star and the nebula ejected by the polluter. Here we present evidence for a barium star in the PN Hen 2-39. The polluted giant is very similar to that found in WeBo 1. It is a cool (Teff=4250 +/- 150 K) giant enhanced in carbon ([C/H]=0.42 +/- 0.02 dex) and barium ([Ba/Fe]=1.50 +/- 0.25 dex). A spectral type of C-R3 C_24 nominally places Hen 2-39 amongst the peculiar early R-type carbon stars, however the barium enhancement and likely binary status mean that it is more likely to be a barium star with similar properties, rather than a true member of this class. An AGB star model of initial mass 1.8 Msun and a relatively large carbon pocket size can reproduce the observed abundances well, provided mass is transferred in a highly conservative way from the AGB star to the polluted star (e.g. wind Roche-lobe overflow). The nebula exhibits an apparent ring morphology in keeping with the other PNe around barium stars (WeBo 1 and A 70) and shows a high degree of ionization implying the presence of an invisible hot pre-WD companion that will require confirmation with UV observations. In contrast to A 70, the nebular chemical abundance pattern is consistent with non-Type I PNe, in keeping with the trend found from nebular s-process studies that non-Type I PNe are more likely to be s-process enhanced. (abridged)
Several [WC]-type central stars of planetary nebulae (PNe) are known to mimic the spectroscopic appearance of massive carbon-rich or WC-type Wolf-Rayet stars. In stark contrast, no [WN]-type central stars have yet been identified as clear-cut analogu
es of the common nitrogen-rich or WN-type Wolf-Rayet stars. We have identified the [WN3] central star of IC4663 to be the first unambiguous example in PNe. The low luminosity nucleus and an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) halo surrounding the main nebula prove the bona-fide PN nature of IC4663. Model atmosphere analysis reveals the [WN3] star to have an exotic chemical composition of helium (95%), hydrogen (<2%), nitrogen (0.8%), neon (0.2%) and oxygen (0.05%) by mass. Such an extreme helium-dominated composition cannot be predicted by current evolutionary scenarios for hydrogen deficient [WC]-type central stars. Only with the discovery of IC4663 and its unusual composition can we now connect [WN] central stars to the O(He) central stars in a second H-deficient and He-rich evolutionary sequence, [WN]->O(He), that exists in parallel to the carbon-rich [WC]->PG1159 sequence. This suggests a simpler mechanism, perhaps a binary merger, can better explain H-deficiency in PNe and potentially other H-deficient/He-rich stars. In this respect IC4663 is the best supported case for a possible merged binary central star of a PN.
The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) contains the nearest large extragalactic population of planetary nebulae (PNe). A shallow viewing angle and low interstellar reddening towards the LMC potentially means a larger, more complete flux-limited population
can be assembled than for any other galaxy. These advantages appear to be reflected by the small gap between the catalogued ($sim$700 PNe) and estimated ($1000pm250$ PNe) population size. With more detailed multi-wavelength studies the catalogued number of LMC PNe may fall, potentially widening this gap. We demonstrate here that the gap can be further bridged with improved optical and near-infrared imaging surveys. We present three [O III]-selected PNe discovered from ESO WFI observations of the 30 Doradus region and one serendipitous discovery from near-infrared Vista Magellanic Cloud (VMC) survey observations. The WFI PNe have resolved [O III] and H$alpha$ nebulae that verify their PN nature and their [O III] fluxes place them 6--7 mag ($m_{5007}=20$--21 mag) fainter than the bright-end of the planetary nebula luminosity function (PNLF). Their faintness, small angular size and surrounding complex emission-line background explains why previous H$alpha$ surveys of the region did not select them. We estimate there may be as many as 50--75 similar PNe awaiting discovery in the central $5times5$ degrees of the LMC. The VMC survey routinely detects PNe as red resolved nebulae that may allow some of this expected population to be recovered without traditional narrow-band imaging surveys. We demonstrate this potential with the first new VMC-selected PN which has a rare Wolf-Rayet [WC9]--[WC11] central star.
We report on the discovery of ETHOS 1 (PN G068.1+11.0), the first spectroscopically confirmed planetary nebula (PN) from a survey of the SuperCOSMOS Science Archive for high-latitude PNe. ETHOS 1 stands out as one of the few PNe to have both polar ou
tflows (jets) travelling at $120pm10$ km/s and a close binary central star. The lightcurve observed with the Mercator telescope reveals an orbital period of 0.535 days and an extremely large amplitude (0.816 mag) due to irradiation of the companion by a very hot pre-white dwarf. ETHOS 1 further strengthens the long suspected link between binary central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPN) and jets. INT IDS and VLT FORS spectroscopy of the CSPN reveals weak N III, C III and C IV emission lines seen in other close binary CSPN and suggests many CSPN with these weak emission lines are misclassified close binaries. We present VLT FORS imaging and Manchester Echelle Spectrometer long slit observations from which a kinematic model of the nebula is built. An unusual combination of bipolar outflows and a spherical nebula conspire to produce an $X$-shaped appearance. The kinematic age of the jets ($1750pm250$ yrs/kpc) are found to be older than the inner nebula ($900pm100$ yrs/kpc) consistent with previous studies of similar PNe. Emission line ratios of the jets are found to be consistent with reverse-shock models for fast low-ionisation emitting regions (FLIERS) in PNe. Further large-scale surveys for close binary CSPN will be required to securely establish whether FLIERS are launched by close binaries.
