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Improved Neutron-Capture Element Abundances in Planetary Nebulae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2013

N. C. Sterling ,
H. L. Dinerstein ,
S. Hwang ,
S. Redfield ,
A. Aguilar ,
M. C. Witthoeft ,
D. Esteves ,
A. L. D. Kilcoyne ,
M. Bautista  and
R. Phaneuf
...Show all authors
N. C. Sterling*
Affiliation:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 662, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
H. L. Dinerstein
Affiliation:
University of Texas, Department of Astronomy, 1 University Station, C1400, Austin, TX 78712-0259, USA
S. Hwang
Affiliation:
University of Texas, Department of Astronomy, 1 University Station, C1400, Austin, TX 78712-0259, USA
S. Redfield
Affiliation:
Astronomy Department, Van Vleck Observatory, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459, USA
A. Aguilar
Affiliation:
Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, MS: 6R2100, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94270, USA
M. C. Witthoeft
Affiliation:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 662, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
D. Esteves
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, MS 220, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0058, USA
A. L. D. Kilcoyne
Affiliation:
Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, MS: 6R2100, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94270, USA
M. Bautista
Affiliation:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Physics Department, Robeson Hall (0435), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
R. Phaneuf
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, MS 220, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0058, USA
R. C. Bilodeau
Affiliation:
Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, MS: 6R2100, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94270, USA
C. P. Ballance
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 33333, USA
B. McLaughlin
Affiliation:
Centre for Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, The David Bates Building, 7 College Park, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
P. H. Norrington
Affiliation:
Centre for Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, The David Bates Building, 7 College Park, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
*
a)Corresponding author. Email: nicholas.c.sterling@nasa.gov
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Abstract

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Spectroscopy of planetary nebulae (PNe) provides the means to investigate s-process enrichments of neutron(n)-capture elements that cannot be detected in Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars. However, accurate abundance determinations of these elements present a challenge. Corrections for unobserved ions can be large and uncertain, since in many PNe only one ion of a given n-capture element has been detected. Furthermore, the atomic data governing the ionization balance of these species are not well-determined, inhibiting the derivation of accurate ionization corrections. We present initial results of a program that addresses these challenges. Deep high-resolution optical spectroscopy of ∼20 PNe has been performed to detect emission lines from trans-iron species including Se, Br, Kr, Rb and Xe. The optical spectral region provides access to multiple ions of these elements, which reduces the magnitude and importance of uncertainties in the ionization corrections. In addition, experimental and theoretical efforts are providing determinations of the photoionization cross sections and recombination rate coefficients of Se, Kr and Xe ions. These new atomic data will make it possible to derive robust ionization corrections for these elements. Together, our observational and atomic data results will enable n-capture element abundances to be determined with unprecedented accuracy in ionized nebulae.

Keywords

planetary nebulae: generalnuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, abundancesstars: AGB and post-AGBatomic data
Type
Observations
Information
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , 2009 , pp. 339 - 344
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of Australia 2009

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