Evolution of Planetary Nebulae I. An improved synthetic model

TL;DR

This paper introduces an improved synthetic model for planetary nebulae evolution, integrating various analytical prescriptions to simulate their dynamical, ionisation, and emission properties from AGB to white dwarf stages, validated against hydrodynamical and observational data.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel synthetic model that combines multiple analytical approaches to accurately simulate planetary nebulae evolution and properties, improving upon previous models.

Findings

Successfully reproduces nebular mass-radius relationship

Matches observed nebular line ratio trends

Predicts transitions between optically-thick and thin states

Abstract

We present a new synthetic model to follow the evolution of a planetary nebula (PN) and its central star, starting from the onset of AGB phase up to the white dwarf cooling sequence. The model suitably combines various analytical prescriptions to account for different (but inter-related) aspects of planetary nebulae, such as: the dynamical evolution of the primary shell and surrounding ejecta, the photoionisation of H and He by the central star, the nebular emission of a few relevant optical lines (e.g. Hbeta; HeII4686; [OIII]5007). Predictions of the synthetic model are tested by comparison with both findings of hydrodynamical calculations, and observations of Galactic PNe. The sensitiveness of the results to the models parameters (e.g. transition time, mass of the central star, H-/He-burning tracks, etc.) is also discussed. We briefly illustrate the systematic differences that are expected in the luminosities and lifetimes of PNe with either H- or He-burning central stars, which result in different ``detection probabilities'' across the H-R diagram, in both Hbeta and [OIII]5007 lines. Adopting reasonable values of the model parameters, we are able to reproduce, in a satisfactory way, many general properties of PNe, like the ionised mass--nebular radius relationship, the trends of a few main nebular line ratios, and the observed ranges of nebular shell thicknesses, electron densities, and expansion velocities. The models naturally predict also the possible transitions from optically-thick to optically-thin configurations (and vice versa). In this context, the origin of the Zanstra discrepancy is also analysed. (abridged)