Post-common envelope PN, fundamental or irrelevant?

TL;DR

This paper discusses the significance of post-common envelope planetary nebulae, highlighting their distinct properties and the potential for improved identification through new simulations coupling common envelope models with planetary nebula formation.

Contribution

It introduces new simulation approaches to distinguish post-common envelope planetary nebulae from others based on their formation and properties.

Findings

Post-common envelope PNe have distinct abundances.

Current morphology alone cannot identify post-common envelope PNe.

Coupling simulations with formation models can improve identification.

Abstract

One in 5 planetary nebulae are ejected from common envelope binary interactions but Kepler Space Telescope results are already showing this proportion to be larger. Their properties, such as abundances can be starkly different from those of the general population, so they should be considered separately when using PN as chemical or population probes. Unfortunately post-common envelope PN cannot be discerned using only their morphologies, but this will change once we couple our new common envelope simulations with PN formation models.