Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae

TL;DR

This review summarizes recent advances in understanding central stars of planetary nebulae, focusing on multiplicity, triple systems, wide binaries, and prospects from Kepler data for detecting merger products.

Contribution

It highlights new findings on multiple star systems and discusses upcoming observational opportunities with Kepler data in this field.

Findings

Recent results on triple central star systems

Discovery of wide binaries avoiding common-envelope phase

Potential to detect merger products with Kepler data

Abstract

In this brief invited review, I will attempt to summarise some of the key areas of interest in the study of central stars of planetary nebulae which (probably) won't be covered by other speakers' proceedings. The main focus will, inevitably, be on the subject of multiplicity, with special emphasis on recent results regarding triple central star systems as well as wide binaries which avoid a common-envelope phase. Furthermore, in light of the upcoming release of Kepler's Campaign 11 data, I will discuss a few of the prospects from that data including the unique possibility to detect merger products.