The post-common-envelope, binary central star of the planetary nebula Hen 2-11

Tyndall, A. A.; Corradi, R. L. M.; Wesson, R.; Miszalski, B.; Jones, D.; Boffin, H. M. J.
Bibliographical reference

Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 562, id.A89, 9 pp.

Advertised on:
2
2014
Number of authors
6
IAC number of authors
1
Citations
46
Refereed citations
39
Description
We present a detailed photometric study of the central star system of the planetary nebula Hen 2-11, selected for study because of its low-ionisation filaments and bipolar morphology - traits which have been strongly linked with central star binarity. Photometric monitoring with NTT-EFOSC2 reveals a highly irradiated, double-eclipsing, post-common-envelope system with a period of 0.609 d. Modelling of the lightcurve indicates that the nebular progenitor is extremely hot, while the secondary in the system is probably a K-type main sequence star. The chemical composition of the nebula is analysed, showing Hen 2-11 to be a medium-excitation non-Type i nebula. A simple photoionisation model is constructed determining abundance ratios of C/O and N/O which would be consistent with the common-envelope cutting short the AGB evolution of the nebular progenitor. The detection of a post-common-envelope binary system at the heart of Hen 2-11 further strengthens the link between binary progeny and the formation of axisymmetric planetary nebulae with patterns of low-ionisation filaments, clearly demonstrating their use as morphological indicators of central star binarity. Extracted 1D spectra, reduced 2D spectra, and table of photometry are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/562/A89
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