Swift/UVOT Photometry of WeBo 1: Unmasking a Faint Hot Companion Star

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

We present an analysis of over 100 ks of data on the planetary nebula WeBo 1 (PN G135.6+01.0) obtained with the Swift Ultraviolet Optical Telescope (UVOT). The central object of this nebula has previously been described as a late-type K giant with a possible hot companion, most likely a young pre-white dwarf. UVOT photometry shows that while the optical photometry is consistent with a large cool object, the NUV photometry shows far more ultaviolet flux than could be produced by any late-type object. Using model stellar atmospheres and a comparison to UVOT photometry for the archetype pre-white dwarf PG1159-035, we find that the companion has a temperature of at least 40,000 K and a radius of, at most, .056 solar radii. We find that higher temperatures more consistent with expectations for a pre-white dwarf can be derived if the foreground dust has a strong "blue bump" at 2175 Angstroms and a lower R_V. Our results demonstrate the ability of Swift to both uncover and characterize hot hidden companion stars and to constrain the UV extinction properties of foreground dust based solely on UVOT photometry

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