Morphokinematical study of the planetary nebula Me2-1: Unveiling its point-symmetric and unusual physical structure

TL;DR

This study uses imaging and spectroscopy to reveal the complex 3D structure and physical properties of planetary nebula Me2-1, highlighting its unusual combination of a ring, spherical shell, and point-symmetric features likely shaped by planetary interactions.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed 3D morphological and kinematic analysis of Me2-1, proposing a novel formation scenario involving planetary companions affecting nebula structure.

Findings

Me2-1 has a ring, spherical shell, and point-symmetric knots.

High-velocity outflows collide with the shell, shaping the nebula.

Chemical abundances suggest a low-mass progenitor.

Abstract

(Abridged) We present narrow-band images in several emission lines, and high- and intermediate-resolution long-slit spectra of Me2-1 to investigate its morphology and 3D structure, its physical parameters and chemical abundances. We identified in Me2-1: an elliptical ring; two elongated, curved structures (caps) that contain three pairs of bright point-symmetric (PS) knots; a shell interior of the ring; and a faint halo or attached shell. The caps are observed in all images, the PS knots only in the low-excitation emission line ones. These structures are also identified in the high-resolution long-slit spectra. The 3D reconstruction shows that Me2-1 consists of a ring seen almost pole-on, and a virtually spherical shell, to which the caps and PS knots are attached. Caps and PS knots most probably trace the sites where high-velocity collimated bipolar outflows, ejected along a wobbling axis, collide with the spherical shell, are slowed down, and remain attached to it. Although the main excitation mechanism in Me2-1 is found to be photoionization, a contribution of shocks in the PS knots is suggested by their emission line ratios. The combination of collimated outflows and a ring with a spherical shell is unusual among planetary nebulae. We speculate that two planets, each with less than one Jupiter mass, could be involved in the formation of Me2-1 if both enter a common envelope evolution during the asymptotic giant branch phase of the progenitor. One planet is tidally disrupted, forming an accretion disk around the central star, from which collimated bipolar outflows are ejected; the other planet survives, causing wobbling of the accretion disk. The derived physical parameters and chemical abundances are similar to those obtained in previous analyses, with the abundances also pointing to a low-mass progenitor of Me2-1.