The Planetary Nebulae Luminosity Function and distances to Virgo, Hydra I and Coma clusters

TL;DR

This paper examines the planetary nebulae luminosity function as a distance indicator, investigates deviations in brightest cluster galaxies, and presents preliminary distance measurements for Virgo, Hydra I, and Coma clusters.

Contribution

It analyzes the invariance of the planetary nebulae luminosity function across galaxy types and explores deviations in brightest cluster galaxies for distance estimation.

Findings

Luminosity function is invariant in different galaxy types.

Deviations observed in brightest cluster galaxies.

Preliminary distances for Virgo, Hydra I, and Coma clusters are provided.

Abstract

The luminosity function of planetary nebulae populations in galaxies within 10-15 Mpc distance has a cut-off at bright magnitudes and a functional form that is observed to be invariant in different galaxy morphological types. Thus it is used as a secondary distance indicator in both early and late-type galaxies. Recent deep surveys of planetary nebulae populations in brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) seem to indicate that their luminosity functions deviate from those observed in the nearby galaxies. We discuss the evidence for such deviations in Virgo, and indicate which physical mechanisms may alter the evolution of a planetary nebula envelope and its central star in the halo of BCGs. We then discuss preliminary results for distances for the Virgo, Hydra I and Coma clusters based on the observed planetary nebulae luminosity functions.