Bibcode
Corradi, Romano
Bibliographical reference
HST Proposal ID #7378
Advertised on:
12
1997
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
We propose to obtain [NII]Lambda658.3 nm images of the extended nebulae
around the symbiotic binaries CH Cyg {HD182917} and He 2-104
{PK315+09D1} using the WFPC2 camera {+ [OII]Lambda372.8 nm with STIS for
CH Cyg}. These large ionized nebulae, one of which has been only
recently discovered, trace mass loss episodes spanning a wide range of
time scales. In particular, the marked bipolar morphology of the nebulae
makes them a very attractive laboratory where to study the effects of
binary interactions in producing highly collimated nebulae and jets, and
where to test current dynamical models of common envelope evolution.
This has important implications for several astrophysical topics {e.g.
shape of planetary nebulae, ejecta of classical novae, jets from young
stars, efficiency of common envelope mass loss, frequency of formation
of white dwarf pairs as the precursors of SN Ia}. Even in the best
ground-based images, these symbiotic nebulae are often poorly resolved,
especially in their inner regions. A precise morphological
characterization from HST images, coupled with spectroscopic data from
the ground, is therefore the first and fundamental observational
information needed to understand their nature and that of their
progenitors. Moreover, with HST we have the unique opportunity to follow
in real-time the spatial evolution of the outflows {on a time basis of
very few years}, and therefore to derive 3-D dynamical models of their
structure.