Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Jan 2012
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2012aas...21931907k&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #219, #319.07
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Scientific paper
We present preliminary results from the first systematic Chandra X-ray Observatory survey of planetary nebulae (PNe) in the solar neighborhood. The Chandra Planetary Nebula Survey (ChanPlaNS), which began with a 570 ks Chandra Cycle 12 Large Program targeting 21 high-excitation PNe within 1.5 kpc of Earth, is intended to provide new insight into the late stages of stellar evolution, with particular emphasis on binary star astrophysics and stellar wind interactions. We are finding that the central stars of PNe commonly appear as X-ray-luminous point sources in Chandra imaging. Surprisingly, the vast majority of these central point sources display X-ray spectra that are quite hard relative to the photospheric emission expected from hot white dwarfs. The origin(s) of these hard X-ray excesses remains uncertain; we discuss a number of potential explanations, ranging from pure single-star to binary interaction processes. The ChanPlaNS survey is also clarifying the relationship between fundamental PN properties (such as age and morphology) and the presence (or absence) of diffuse X-ray emission from central star fast wind shocks (i.e., "hot bubbles"). These ChanPlaNS X-ray imaging spectroscopy results for both point-like and diffuse X-ray emission will be used to inform and refine models describing PN shaping mechanisms and, in particular, the role of binarity in determining PN structure and evolution. This research is supported via award number GO1-12025A to RIT issued by the Chandra X-ray Observatory Center, which is operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for and on behalf of NASA under contract NAS803060.
ChanPlaNS Team
Kastner Joel H.
Montez Rodolfo Jr.
No associations
LandOfFree
ChanPlaNS: The Chandra X-ray Observatory Planetary Nebula Survey does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with ChanPlaNS: The Chandra X-ray Observatory Planetary Nebula Survey, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and ChanPlaNS: The Chandra X-ray Observatory Planetary Nebula Survey will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1579938