Atomic Data and Neutron-Capture Element Abundances in Planetary Nebulae

TL;DR

This review discusses the detection of neutron-capture elements in planetary nebulae, the atomic data needed for accurate abundance measurements, and how these findings inform models of stellar nucleosynthesis.

Contribution

It synthesizes recent atomic data studies and their application to deriving n-capture element abundances in planetary nebulae, advancing understanding of stellar evolution.

Findings

Detection of n-capture elements in over 100 PNe enhances nucleosynthesis models.

Atomic data improvements lead to more accurate abundance determinations.

Results constrain models of AGB star evolution and element production.

Abstract

Neutron(n)-capture elements are produced by s-process nucleosynthesis in low- and intermediate-mass AGB stars, and therefore can be enriched in planetary nebulae (PNe). In the last ten years, n-capture elements have been detected in more than 100 PNe in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies. In some objects, several different n-capture elements have been detected, providing valuable constraints to models of AGB nucleosynthesis and evolution. These detections have motivated theoretical and experimental investigations of the atomic data needed to derive accurate n-capture element abundances. In this review, I discuss the methods and results of these atomic data studies, and their application to abundance determinations in PNe.