Ma. T. García-Díaz

THE OUTFLOWS AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE OF NGC 6337: A PLANETARY NEBULA WITH A CLOSE BINARY NUCLEUS

NGC 6337 is a member of the rare group of planetary nebulae where a close binary nucleus has been identified. The nebulas morphology and emission line profiles are both unusual, particularly the latter. We present a thorough mapping of spatially resolved, long-slit echelle spectra obtained over the nebula that allows a detailed characterization of its complex kinematics. This information, together with narrowband imagery, is used to produce a three-dimensional (3D) model of the nebula using the code SHAPE. The 3D model yields a slowly expanding toroid with large density fluctuations in its periphery that are observed as cometary knots. A system of bipolar expanding caps of low ionization is located outside the toroid. In addition, an extended high velocity and tenuous bipolar collimated outflow is found emerging from the core and sharply bending in opposite directions, a behavior that cannot be accounted for by pure magnetic launching and collimation unless the source of the outflow is precessing or rotating, as could be expected from a close binary nucleus.

A wind–shell interaction model for multipolar planetary nebulae

We explore the formation of multipolar structures in planetary and pre-planetary nebulae from the interaction of a fast post-AGB wind with a highly inhomogeneous and filamentary shell structure assumed to form during the final phase of the high density wind. The simulations were performed with a new hydrodynamics code integrated in the interactive framework of the astrophysical modeling package SHAPE. In contrast to conventional astrophysical hydrodynamics software, the new code does not require any programming intervention by the user for setting up or controlling the code. Visualization and analysis of the simulation data has been done in SHAPE without external software. The key conclusion from the simulations is that secondary lobes in planetary nebulae, such as Hubble 5 and K3-17, can be formed through the interaction of a fast low-density wind with a complex high density environment, such as a filamentary circumstellar shell. The more complicated alternative explanation of intermittent collimated outflows that change direction, in many cases may therefore not be necessary. We consider that the wind-shell interaction scenario is more likely since the bow-shock shape expected from a strongly cooling bow-shock from jets is different from that of the observed bubbles. Furthermore, the timescales of the wind-wind interaction suggest that the progenitor star was rather massive.

Large-Scale Flows from Orion South* ** ***

Multiple optical outflows are known to exist in the vicinity of the active star formation region called Orion South (Orion-S). We have mapped the velocity of low-ionization features in the brightest part of the Orion Nebula, including Orion-S, and imaged the entire nebula with the Hubble Space Telescope. These new data, combined with recent high-resolution radio maps of outflows from the Orion-S region, allow us to trace the origin of the optical outflows. It is confirmed that HH 625 arises from the blueshifted lobe of the CO outflow from 136-359 in Orion-S, while it is likely that HH 507 arises from the blueshifted lobe of the SiO outflow from the nearby source 135-356. It is likely that redshifted lobes are deflected within the photon-dominated region behind the optical nebula. This leads to a possible identification of a new large shock to the southwest of Orion-S as being driven by the redshifted CO outflow arising from 137-408. The distant object HH 400 is seen to have two even further components, and these all are probably linked to either HH 203, HH 204, or HH 528. Distant shocks on the west side of the nebula may be related to HH 269. The sources of multiple bright, blueshifted Herbig-Haro objects (HH 202, HH 203, HH 204, HH 269, and HH 528) remain unidentified, in spite of earlier claimed identifications. Some of this lack of identification may arise from the fact that deflection in radial velocity can also produce a change in direction in the plane of the sky. The best way to resolve this open question is through improved tangential velocities of low-ionization features arising where the outflows first break out into the ionized nebula.

Morpho-kinematic Analysis of the Point-symmetric, Bipolar Planetary Nebulae Hb 5 and K 3-17, A Pathway to Poly-polarity

The kinematics of the bipolar planetary nebulae Hb 5 and K 3-17 are investigated in detail by means of a comprehensive set of spatially resolved high spectral resolution, long-slit spectra. Both objects share particularly interesting characteristics, such as a complex filamentary, rosette-type nucleus, axial point-symmetry, and very fast bipolar outflows. The kinematic information of Hb 5 is combined with Hubble Space Telescope imagery to construct a detailed three-dimensional model of the nebula using the code SHAPE. The model shows that the large-scale lobes are growing in a non-homologous way. The filamentary loops in the core are proven to actually be secondary lobes emerging from what appears to be a randomly punctured, dense, gaseous core and the material that forms the point-symmetric structure flows within the lobes with a distinct kinematic pattern and its interaction with the lobes has had a shaping effect on them. Hb 5 and K 3-17 may represent a class of fast evolving planetary nebulae that will develop poly-polar characteristics once the nebular core evolves and expands.

A Detailed Morpho-kinematic Model of the Eskimo, NGC?2392: A Unifying View with the Cat's Eye and Saturn Planetary Nebulae

The 3-D and kinematic structure of the Eskimo nebula, NGC 2392, has been notoriously difficult to interpret in detail given its complex morphology, multiple kinematic components and its nearly pole-on orientation along the line of sight. We present a comprehensive, spatially resolved, high resolution, long-slit spectroscopic mapping of the Eskimo planetary nebula. The data consist of 21 spatially resolved, long-slit echelle spectra tightly spaced over the Eskimo and along its bipolar jets. This data set allows us to construct a velocity-resolved [NII] channel map of the nebula with a resolution of 10 km/s that disentangles the different kinematic components of the nebula. The spectroscopic information is combined with HST images to construct a detailed three dimensional morpho-kinematic model of the Eskimo using the code SHAPE. With this model we demonstrate that the Eskimo is a close analog to the Saturn and the Cats Eye nebulae, but rotated 90 degrees to the line of sight. Furthermore, we show that the main characteristics of our model apply to the general properties of the group of elliptical planetary nebulae with ansae or FLIERS, once the orientation is considered. We conclude that these kind of nebulae belongs to a class with a complex common evolutionary sequence of events.

The accretion disk in the post period-minimum cataclysmic variable SDSS J080434.20 + 510349.2

Aims. This study of SDSS J080434.20+510349.2 is primarily concerned with the double-hump shape in the light curve and its connection with the accretion disk in this bounce-back system. Methods. Time-resolved photometric and spectroscopic observations were obtained to analyze the behavior of the system between superoutbursts. A qualitative geometric model of a binary system containing a disk with two outer annuli spiral density waves was applied to explain the light curve and the Doppler tomography. Results. Observations were carried out during 2008−2009, after the object’s magnitude decreased to V ∼ 17.7 ± 0.1 from the March 2006 eruption. The light curve clearly shows a sinusoid-like variability with a 0.07 mag amplitude and a 42.48 min periodicity, which is half of the orbital period of the system. In September 2010, the system underwent yet another superoutburst and returned to its quiescent level by the beginning of 2012. This light curve once again showed a double-hump-shape, but with a significantly smaller (∼0.01 mag) amplitude. Other types of variability like a “mini-outburst” or SDSS1238-like features were not detected. Doppler tomograms, obtained from spectroscopic data during the same period of time, show a large accretion disk with uneven brightness, implying the presence of spiral waves. Conclusions. We constructed a geometric model of a bounce-back system containing two spiral density waves in the outer annuli of the disk to reproduce the observed light curves. The Doppler tomograms and the double-hump-shape light curves in quiescence can be .

SHAPING THE GLOWING EYE PLANETARY NEBULA, NGC 6751

NGC 6751 is a highly structured multiple-shell planetary nebula (PN) with a bipolar outflow. In this work, we present a comprehensive set of spatially resolved, high spectral resolution, long-slit spectra and deep imaging from San Pedro Martir, Gemini, the Hα composite full sky survey and archive images from the Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer. This material allows us to identify all the main morphological components and study their detailed kinematics. We find a thick equatorial structure fragmented into multiple knots that enclose a fast expanding bubble with a filamentary surface structure. The knotty ring is surrounded by faint emission from a disk-like envelope. Lobes with embedded filaments form a bipolar outflow. The equatorial ring is tilted with respect to the line of sight and with respect to the bipolar outflow. A spherical halo surrounds the PN and there is material further out identified as a fragmented outer halo. This information is used to derive a three-dimensional morpho-kinematic model using the code SHAPE that closely replicates the observed image and long-slit spectra of the nebula, providing a fair representation of its complex structure. NGC 6751 is located close to the galactic plane and its large-scale surrounding environment is shown to be a gas-rich region. We find indications that the PN is interacting with the interstellar medium. Emission components from an extended nebulosity located a couple of arcminutes away from the nebula have radial velocities that are inconsistent with the rest of NGC 6751 and are confirmed as originating from the ambient material, not related to the PN, in agreement with a previous suggestion.

The remarkable outburst of the highly evolved post-period-minimum dwarf nova SSS J122221.7-311525

We report extensive 3-yr multiwavelength observations of the WZ Sge-type dwarf nova SSS J122221.7−311525 during its unusual double superoutburst, the following decline and in quiescence. The second segment of the superoutburst had a long duration of 33 d and a very gentle decline with a rate of 0.02 mag d−1, and it displayed an extended post-outburst decline lasting at least 500 d. Simultaneously with the start of the rapid fading from the superoutburst plateau, the system showed the appearance of a strong near-infrared excess resulting in very red colours, which reached extreme values (B − I ≃ 1.4) about 20 d later. The colours then became bluer again, but it took at least 250 d to acquire a stable level. Superhumps were clearly visible in the light curve from our very first time-resolved observations until at least 420 d after the rapid fading from the superoutburst. The spectroscopic and photometric data revealed an orbital period of 109.80 min and a fractional superhump period excess ≲0.8 per cent, indicating a very low mass ratio q ≲ 0.045. With such a small mass ratio the donor mass should be below the hydrogen-burning minimum mass limit. The observed infrared flux in quiescence is indeed much lower than is expected from a cataclysmic variable with a near-main-sequence donor star. This strongly suggests a brown-dwarf-like nature for the donor and that SSS J122221.7−311525 has already evolved away from the period minimum towards longer periods, with the donor now extremely dim.

THE NATURE AND FREQUENCY OF OUTFLOWS FROM STARS IN THE CENTRAL ORION NEBULA CLUSTER

Recent Hubble Space Telescope images have allowed the determination with unprecedented accuracy of motions and changes of shocks within the inner Orion Nebula. These originate from collimated outflows from very young stars, some within the ionized portion of the nebula and others within the host molecular cloud. We have doubled the number of Herbig-Haro objects known within the inner Orion Nebula. We find that the best-known Herbig-Haro shocks originate from a relatively few stars, with the optically visible X-ray source COUP 666 driving many of them. While some isolated shocks are driven by single collimated outflows, many groups of shocks are the result of a single stellar source having jets oriented in multiple directions at similar times. This explains the feature that shocks aligned in opposite directions in the plane of the sky are usually blue shifted because the redshifted outflows pass into the optically thick Photon Dominated Region behind the nebula. There are two regions from which optical outflows originate for which there are no candidate sources in the SIMBAD data base.

A spectroscopic and photometric study of the planetary nebulae Kn 61 and Pa 5

We present the first morpho-kinematical analysis of the planetary nebulae Kn 61 and Pa 5 and explore the nature of their central stars. Our analysis is based on high resolution and medium resolution spectroscopic observations, deep narrow-band imaging, and integral photometry. This material allows us to identify the morphological components and study their kinematics. The direct images and spectra indicate an absence of the characteristic [N II] and [S II] emission lines in both nebulae. The nebular spectrum of Kn 61 suggests an hydrogen deficient planetary nebula and the stellar spectrum of the central star reveals a hydrogen deficient PG 1159-type star. The [O III] position velocity diagram reveals that Kn 61 is a closed, empty, spherical shell with a thin border and a filamentary surface expanding at 67.6 km s