Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae in IPHAS and SDSS

TL;DR

This study aims to refine the birthrate and space density estimates of planetary nebulae by analyzing a local sample from IPHAS and SDSS, using photometric colours to identify central stars and improve distance measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a method to identify central stars in PNe using photometric colours and creates grids to constrain stellar parameters, improving distance estimates and birthrate calculations.

Findings

Discovery of many previously unknown PNe with IPHAS

More complete local sample impacts birthrate estimates

Enhanced methods for identifying central stars

Abstract

Space densities and birthrates of Planetary Nebulae (PNe) are highly uncertain. A large range of formation rates has been derived by different studies, which has led to contradicting ideas for the final evolutionary phases of low and intermediate mass stars. We started a project to deduce a birthrate using a sample of PNe within 2kpc. The central stars will be identified in the PNe fields by their photometric colours and then used to establish improved distance estimates. To facilitate this we have created grids of photometric colours which are used to constrain stellar parameters. Our study has concentrated on PNe in SDSS and the INT Photometric Halpha Survey (IPHAS) so far. IPHAS is a nearly complete northern galactic plane survey in Halpha, r' and i' bands. Many previously unknown PNe have been discovered with IPHAS. We investigate implications of a more complete local sample on PN birthrate estimates.