Planetary nebulae that cannot be explained by binary systems

TL;DR

This study analyzes planetary nebulae morphologies and suggests that a significant fraction may be shaped by triple stellar systems, challenging the binary interaction model.

Contribution

It introduces a qualitative classification scheme for PNe based on morphology and hypothesizes that 13-21% are influenced by triple stellar systems.

Findings

Approximately 13-21% of PNe may be shaped by triple stellar systems.

A classification scheme for PNe morphology related to stellar system complexity.

Encourages searching for triple systems at PNe centers.

Abstract

We examine the images of hundreds of planetary nebulae (PNe) and find that for about one in six PNe the morphology is too `messy' to be accounted for by models of stellar binary interaction. We speculate that interacting triple stellar systems shaped these PNe. In this preliminary study we qualitatively classify PNe by one of four categories. (1) PNe that show no need for a tertiary star to account for their morphology. (2) PNe whose structure possesses a pronounced departure from axial-symmetry and/or mirror-symmetry. We classify these, according to our speculation, as `having a triple stellar progenitor'. (3) PNe whose morphology possesses departure from axial-symmetry and/or mirror-symmetry, but not as pronounced as in the previous class, and are classified as `likely shaped by triple stellar system'. (4) PNe with minor departure from axial-symmetry and/or mirror symmetry that could have been as well caused by an eccentric binary system or the inter-stellar medium. These are classified as `maybe shaped by a triple stellar system'. Given a weight eta_t=1, eta_l=0.67, eta_m=0.33 to classes 2, 3 and 4, respectively, we find that according to our assumption about 13 - 21% of PNe have been shaped by triple stellar systems. Although in some evolutionary scenarios not all three stars survive the evolution, we encourage the search for a triple stellar systems at the center of some PNe.