New results on planetary nebula shaping and stellar binarity

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in understanding how physical mechanisms and stellar binarity influence the diverse shapes of planetary nebulae, highlighting developments from the past three years.

Contribution

It provides an updated synthesis of observational and theoretical progress on planetary nebula shaping mechanisms and the role of stellar binarity since 2009.

Findings

Enhanced observational evidence for binary influence on nebula morphology

New models explaining asymmetrical planetary nebulae shapes

Recent discoveries linking stellar binarity to nebula formation

Abstract

The question of what physical mechanisms shape planetary nebulae into their observed morphologies remains open. However, intensified efforts since the last meeting in this series, Asymmetrical Planetary Nebulae IV, in July 2007 have yielded some excellent results. In this review we concentrate on those developments that have taken place in the last three years, with emphasis on results obtained since the review by De Marco (2009).