A SURVEY FOR PLANETARY NEBULAE IN M31 GLOBULAR CLUSTERS

作者：Jacoby George H^*; Ciardullo Robin; De Marco Orsola; Lee Myung Gyoon; Herrmann Kimberly A; Hwang Ho Seong; Kaplan Evan; Davies James E

来源：Astrophysical Journal, 2013, 769(1): 10.

DOI：10.1088/0004-637X/769/1/10

• galaxies: individual (M31)
• globular clusters: general
• planetary nebulae: general
• stars: evolution

We report the results of an [O III] lambda 5007 spectroscopic survey for planetary nebulae (PNe) located within the star clusters of M31. By examining R similar to 5000 spectra taken with the WIYN+Hydra spectrograph, we identify 3 PN candidates in a sample of 274 likely globular clusters, 2 candidates in objects which may be globular clusters, and 5 candidates in a set of 85 younger systems. The possible PNe are all faint, between similar to 2.5 and similar to 6.8 mag down the PN luminosity function, and, partly as a consequence of our selection criteria, have high excitation, with [O III] lambda 5007 to H beta ratios ranging from 2 to greater than or similar to 12. We discuss the individual candidates, their likelihood of cluster membership, and the possibility that they were formed via binary interactions within the clusters. Our data are consistent with the suggestion that PN formation within globular clusters correlates with binary encounter frequency, though, due to the small numbers and large uncertainties in the candidate list, this study does not provide sufficient evidence to confirm the hypothesis.

• 出版日期2013-5-20