When the Stars Align: A 5 {\sigma} Concordance of Planetary Nebulae Major Axes in the Centre of our Galaxy

TL;DR

This study finds a highly significant alignment of bipolar planetary nebulae in the Galactic bulge, suggesting the influence of stable magnetic fields on binary star evolution over cosmic timescales.

Contribution

It provides the first strong statistical evidence linking planetary nebulae orientation to magnetic fields in the Galactic center, highlighting a persistent organized process.

Findings

5σ significance of major axes alignment

Alignment nearly parallel to Galactic plane

Implication of magnetic fields affecting binary star evolution

Abstract

We report observations of a remarkable major axes alignment nearly parallel to the Galactic plane of 5{\sigma} significance for a subset of bulge "planetary nebulae" (PNe) that host, or are inferred to host, short period binaries. Nearly all are bipolar. It is solely this specific PNe population that accounts for the much weaker statistical alignments previously reported for the more general bulge PNe. It is clear evidence of a persistent, organised process acting on a measurable parameter at the heart of our Galaxy over perhaps cosmologically significant periods of time for this very particular PNe sample. Stable magnetic fields are currently the only plausible mechanism that could affect multiple binary star orbits as revealed by the observed major axes orientations of their eventual PNe. Examples are fed into the current bulge planetary nebulae population at a rate determined by their formation history and mass range of their binary stellar progenitors.