Novel Constraints on Companions to the Helix Nebula Central Star

TL;DR

This study investigates potential companions to the Helix Nebula's central star using TESS data and light curve modeling, constraining the size, inclination, and nature of possible substellar objects responsible for nebular asymmetries.

Contribution

It provides new constraints on the size, inclination, and nature of potential companions, ruling out certain types and suggesting possible substellar objects with future JWST confirmation.

Findings

Jupiter-sized companions are ruled out by spectral data.

Companions larger than Neptune remain plausible.

No ultracool dwarf companions within 1200 au are permitted.

Abstract

The Helix is a visually striking and the nearest planetary nebula, yet any companions responsible for its asymmetric morphology have yet to be identified. In 2020, low-amplitude photometric variations with a periodicity of 2.8 d were reported based on Cycle 1 TESS observations. In this work, with the inclusion of two additional sectors, these periodic light curves are compared with lcurve simulations of irradiated companions in such an orbit. Based on the light curve modelling, there are two representative solutions: i) a Jupiter-sized body with 0.102 Rsol and an arbitrarily small orbital inclination i=1 deg, and ii) a 0.021 Rsol exoplanet with i approx. 25 deg, essentially aligned with the Helix Nebular inclination. Irradiated substellar companion models with equilibrium temperature 4970 K are constructed and compared with existing optical spectra and infrared photometry, where Jupiter-sized bodies can be ruled out, but companions modestly larger than Neptune are still allowed. Additionally, any spatially-unresolved companions are constrained based on the multi-wavelength, photometric spectral energy distribution of the central star. No ultracool dwarf companion earlier than around L5 is permitted within roughly 1200 au, leaving only faint white dwarfs and cold brown dwarfs as possible surviving architects of the nebular asymmetries. While a planetary survivor is a tantalizing possibility, it cannot be ruled out that the light curve modulation is stellar in nature, where any substellar companion requires confirmation and may be possible with JWST observations.