Early shaping of asymmetrical planetary nebulae

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167446· OSTI ID:5510025

Soker, N ^[1]

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1. Virginia Univ., Charlottesville (USA)

It is suggested that the shape of a young asymmetrical planetary nebulae may be influenced by a close binary-star located at its center. This binary is a relic of the common envelope phase, presumably through which the asymmetrical planetary nebula evolved. It is assumed that, for a short period of time, shortly after the cessation of the slow wind and long before the fast wind becomes effective, the binary ejects a small amount of mass, mainly in the equatorial plane. By using two-dimensional hydrodynamics it is found that, at late times, the high-density region has a horsehoe shape, as viewed in the symmetry plane. There is an instability in the maximum density region, which shows up as a high-density knot. The exact scale of the knot is determined by the numerics. The applications of the results to observations are discussed. 19 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5510025
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 340; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• 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
ASYMMETRY
BASIC INTERACTIONS
BINARY STARS
DENSITY
FLUID MECHANICS
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INTERACTIONS
MASS TRANSFER
MECHANICS
MORPHOLOGY
NEBULAE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETARY NEBULAE
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR WINDS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS