Bibcode
Miszalski, B.; Jones, D.; Rodríguez-Gil, P.; Boffin, H. M. J.; Corradi, R. L. M.; Santander-García, M.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 531, id.A158
Advertised on:
7
2011
Journal
Citations
67
Refereed citations
50
Description
We present observations proving the close binary nature of the central
stars belonging to the planetary nebulae (PNe) NGC 6326 and NGC 6778.
Photometric monitoring reveals irradiated lightcurves with orbital
periods of 0.372 and 0.1534 days, respectively, constituting firm
evidence that they passed through a common-envelope (CE) phase. Unlike
most surveys for close binary central stars (CSPN) however, the binary
nature of NGC 6326 was first revealed spectroscopically and only later
did photometry obtain an orbital period. Gemini South observations
revealed a large 160 km s-1 shift between the nebula and
emission lines of C III and N III well known to originate from
irradiated atmospheres of main-sequence companions. These so-called weak
emission lines are fairly common in PNe and measurement of their radial
velocity shifts in spectroscopic surveys could facilitate the
construction of a statistically significant sample of post-CE nebulae.
There is growing evidence that this process can be further accelerated
by pre-selecting nebulae with traits of known post-CE nebulae. Both NGC
6326 and NGC 6778 were selected for their rich attribution of
low-ionisation filaments and collimated outflows, thereby strengthening
the connection between these traits and post-CE CSPN.
Based on observations made with Gemini South under program
GS-2009A-Q-35, the South African Astronomical Observatory 1.9 m
telescope, the Flemish Mercator telescope of the Observatoria del Roque
de Los Muchachos, and the Very Large Telescope at Paranal Observatory
under program 085.D-0629(A).
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