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Rings and arcs around evolved stars -- III. Physical conditions of the ring-like structures in the planetary nebula IC 4406 revealed by MUSE

2022/03/02 by G. Ramos-Larios, J. A. Toalá, J B Rodríguez-González +3 · 4 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Electron #Electron density #Emission nebula #Nebula #Physics #Planetary nebula #Ring (chemistry) #Stars #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph.GA #astro-ph.SR

paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/mnras/stac605

published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 513(2), 2862-2868 (Oxford University Press) · 8 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

arxiv created 2022/03/02 · openalex publication_date 2022/03/04 · openalex created_date 2022/03/05 · arxiv updated 2022/03/14 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We present the analysis of Very Large Telescope (VLT) Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) observations of the planetary nebula (PN) IC 4406. MUSE images in key emission lines are used to unveil the presence of at least 5 ring-like structures North and South of the main nebula of IC 4406. MUSE spectra are extracted from the rings to unambiguously assess for the first time in a PN their physical conditions, electron density (ne) and temperature (Te). The rings are found to have similar Te than the rim of the main nebula, but smaller ne. Ratios between different ionic species suggest that the rings of IC 4406 have a lower ionization state than the main cavity, in contrast to what was suggested for the rings in NGC6543, the Cat's Eye Nebula.

Citations