On the enhancement of helium and nitrogen in planetary nebulae

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/182760· OSTI ID:6627701

Kaler, J B; Iben, I Jr; Becker, S A

Enhancements of the ratios He/H and N/O in planetary nebulae are shown to be consistent with enhancements in surface abundances predicted by the theory of stellar evolution. From a quantitative comparison between observation and theory we infer that: (1) hydrogen is converted into helium, and both carbon and oxygen are converted into nitrogen in progenitor stars; (2) the primordial ratio of helium to hydrogen in the Galaxy is approx.0.08 and is augmented by approximately 20% during galactic history; (3) the initial main-sequence masses of stars which ultimately eject planetaries with the largest enhancements of He/H and N/O are in excess of 3--5 M/sub sun/; and (4) considerable mass loss by stellar winds precedes the ejection of a planetary shell.

• Research Organization: University of Illinois
• OSTI ID: 6627701
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States) Vol. 224:2; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
HELIUM
HYDROGEN
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
NEBULAE
NONMETALS
PLANETARY NEBULAE
QUANTITY RATIO
RARE GASES
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
STELLAR WINDS