Discovery of Enhanced Germanium Abundances in Planetary Nebulae with FUSE

2002/08/28 by N. C. Sterling, H. L. Dinerstein, Charles W. Bowers +1 · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astronomical and nuclear sciences #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/344473

published as Astrophys.J.578:L55-L58,2002 · 11 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

arxiv created 2002/08/28 · openalex publication_date 2002/09/24 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · arxiv updated 2016/08/30 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31

Abstract

We report the discovery of Ge III λ1088.46 in the planetary nebulae (PNe) SwSt 1, BD+30^{\rm o}3639, NGC 3132, and IC 4593, observed with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer. This is the first astronomical detection of this line and the first measurement of Ge (Z = 32) in PNe. We estimate Ge abundances using S and Fe as reference elements, for a range of assumptions about gas-phase depletions. The results indicate that Ge, which is synthesized in the initial steps of the s-process and therefore can be self-enriched in PNe, is enhanced by factors of > 3-10. The strongest evidence for enrichment is seen for PNe with Wolf-Rayet central stars, which are likely to contain heavily processed material.

Citations

• Atomic data for resonance absorption lines. I - Wavelengths longward of the Lyman limit
• Nucleosynthesis in Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars: Relevance for Galactic Enrichment and Solar System Formation

Cited by

• Physical properties of the fluorine and neutron-capture element-rich PN Jonckheere 900
• s‐Process Abundances in Planetary Nebulae
• Germanium [wikipedia]