Planetary Nebulae: A Modern View
Abstract
Our current understanding of the origin and evolution of planetary nebulae is reviewed. We now recognize that a planetary nebulae represents a dynamical system which evolution is tightly coupled to the evolution of the central star. Not only is the ionization structure of the nebula controlled by the radiative output from the central star, the dynamics and morphology of the nebula are heavily influenced by the mechanical energy output from the central star. Since the time scale of evolution of the central star is strongly dependent on its mass, the extent of the radiative and mechanical interactions between the star and the nebula not only vary with time, but also vary with stellar mass. The physical properties of planetary nebulae are discussed under this context. (SECTION: Invited Review Papers)
- Publication:
-
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
- Pub Date:
- April 1994
- DOI:
- 10.1086/133384
- Bibcode:
- 1994PASP..106..344K
- Keywords:
-
- Planetary Nebulae;
- Stellar Evolution;
- Distance;
- Dynamical Systems;
- Gas Expansion;
- Ionized Gases;
- Morphology;
- Stellar Mass Ejection;
- Stellar Temperature;
- Astrophysics;
- PLANETARY NEBULAE: GENERAL;
- STARS: EVOLUTION;
- INVITED REVIEW PAPER