Molecular hydrogen maps of extended planetary nebulae - the Dumbbell, the Ring, and NGC 2346

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165910· OSTI ID:5345972

Zuckerman, B; Gatley, I

The 3.8-m United Kingdom Infrared Telecsope at Mauna Kea was used to obtain complete H2 maps of three extended planetary nebulae (PNs) that are representative of two of the most common PN morphologies, bow tie and bipolar ring: the Dumbbell (NGC 6853), the Ring (NGC 6720), and the NG 2346, are discussed. The results of map analysis indicates that the S(1) emission from H2 closely follows the optical morphology of the three nebulae. The H2 emission is more extended than the main emitting mass of ionized gas and, in NGCC 2346, there is evidence for a dense torus of hot H2 surrounding the central star. The H2 emissionl appears to be shock-excited. Examinations of existing H2 measurements indicate that strong H2 emission is preferentially present in PNs that lie at small galactic latitude, implying that massive main-sequence stars produce ionization-bounded PNs, whereas low-mass stars produce density-bounded PNs. Thus, maps of H2 emission may not only be used to determine whether a given PN is ionization-bounded or density-bounded, but also to estimate the mass of the progenitor star. 83 references.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Los Angeles (USA); National Optical Astronomy Observatories, Tucson, AZ (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5345972
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 324; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
EMISSION SPECTRA
FLUIDS
GASES
H2 REGIONS
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONIZED GASES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAPS
MASS
MORPHOLOGY
NEBULAE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETARY NEBULAE
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPECTRA
STAR EVOLUTION
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR WINDS