Bibcode
Schwarz, H.; Bendersky, C.; Corradi, R.
Bibliographical reference
American Astronomical Society Meeting 207, #08.13; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 37, p.1163
Advertised on:
12
2005
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
Planetary nebula NGC6543 has a complex structure with a central hot
bubble showing both point- and plane symmetry, and a large outer halo
that is likely interacting with the local ISM. Between these two
structures the HST has revealed a series of a least nine regularly
spaced concentric circular rings that are faint and have low contrast.
The origin of these rings, which have also been found in other PNe, is
not clear. We have taken long-slit spectropolarimetry of these rings
using ISIS on the 4.2 meter William Hershel Telescope. Due to the
faintness of the rings, only the [OIII] 500.7nm line had sufficient SN
to be of use. We determined the polarization degree and angle in various
positions in the core, rings, and outer halo of NGC6543. Only the rings
showed significant polarization at 4-5% in a symmetric pattern centered
on the central star of the PN, making dust scattering in the rings the
likely polarigenic mechanism.
Our observations did not have sufficient spectral resolution to
distiguish between the two main classes of models that attempt to
explain these rings.