Bibcode
Pena, M.; Stasińska, G.; Esteban, C.; Koesterke, L.; Medina, S.; Kingsburgh, R.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, v.337, p.866-882 (1998)
Advertised on:
9
1998
Journal
Citations
41
Refereed citations
32
Description
Spatially resolved long-slit spectrophotometric data for the planetary
nebulae PB 6, NGC 2452, NGC 2867, NGC 6905 and He 2-55 are presented.
Different knots were observed in each nebula. All the nebulae are
ionized by [WC 2-3] type nuclei. For the five objects, we calculated
photoionization models using the ionizing radiation field from models of
expanding atmospheres. The photoionization models, built with the
condition that the predicted stellar visual magnitude is equal to the
observed one, were rather successful in reproducing at the same time the
ionization structure and the electron temperature of the nebulae, using
model atmospheres that were close (+/-20 000 K) to the best fit for
reproducing the stellar features, as presented by Koesterke & Hamann
(1997a). The constraints for the modelling procedure were to reproduce
the observed intensity ratios of important lines of different ionization
stages, and to be roughly consistent with the observed Hβ flux,
angular diameter and morphology of the nebulae. We found that, for some
objects, only two-density models with an inner zone of lower density can
meet all these requirements. These density structures are consistent
with the morphology showed by the nebulae. In a couple of cases, our
photoionization modelling seems to indicate that the models of expanding
atmospheres used could be lacking ionizing photons with respect to their
emission in the V band. Chemical abundances in the nebulae were derived
from the ionic abundances observed and ionization correction factors
obtained from the models. We found that, while the five nebulae of our
program have very similar exciting stars (similar stellar temperatures,
mass loss rates, chemical compositions), the nebular chemical
compositions are different. PB 6 and NGC 2452 are He-, N-, and probably
C-rich nebulae, indicating massive progenitors (M_initial >= 2.8
M_sun). In particular, abundances in PB 6 are consistent with a scenario
of C produced via the triple-alpha process, being brought to the surface
by the third dredge-up event and partially converted into N through
envelope-burning. The other nebulae present typical disk-PNe abundances,
showing only C enrichment (C/O >= 1). Therefore their progenitors
were not massive, but all underwent the third dredge-up. Thus, clearly,
post-AGB stars of quite different initial masses can pass through a [WC]
stage with similar atmospheric parameters. We did not find evidence for
abundance variations inside any of the nebulae. In PB 6 and NGC 2867, we
found that the C/O ratios derived from the C Iii] 1909/[O Iii] 5007 line
ratios would induce electron temperatures significantly lower than
observed. The discrepancy would be larger if carbon abundances derived
from the optical C Ii 4267 recombination lines are considered. Partially
based on data obtained at the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional,
SPM, B.C., México