EDP Sciences Journals List
Advanced Search
Subscriber Authentication Point
Home All issues Volume 467/2 Article
Highlighted Paper (More)
Free access article

Issue A&A
Volume 467, Number 2, May IV 2007
Page(s) L29 - L32
Section Letters
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20077250



A&A 467, L29-L32 (2007)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20077250

Letter

White dwarf masses derived from planetary nebula modelling

K. Gesicki1 and A. A. Zijlstra2

1  Centrum Astronomii UMK, ul. Gagarina 11, 87-100 Torun, Poland
    e-mail: Krzysztof.Gesicki@astri.uni.torun.pl
2  School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD, UK
    e-mail: a.zijlstra@manchester.ac.uk

(Received 7 February 2007 / Accepted 15 March 2007)

Abstract
Aims.We compare the mass distribution of central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPNe) with those of their progeny, white dwarfs (WD).
Methods.We use a dynamical method to measure masses with an uncertainty of 0.02 $M_\odot$.
Results.The CSPN mass distribution is sharply peaked at $0.61~M_\odot$. The WD distribution peaks at lower masses ( $0.58~M_\odot$) and shows a much broader range of masses. Some of the difference can be explained if the early post-AGB evolution is faster than predicted by the Blöcker tracks. Between 30 and 50 per cent of WD may avoid the PN phase because they have too low a mass. However, the discrepancy cannot be fully resolved and WD mass distributions may have been broadened by observational or model uncertainties.


Key words: planetary nebulae: general -- stars: evolution -- stars: white dwarfs



© ESO 2007


What is OpenURL?

The OpenURL standard is a protocol for transmission of metadata describing the resource that you wish to access. An OpenURL link contains article metadata and directs it to the OpenURL server of your choice. The OpenURL server can provide access to the resource and also offer complementary services (specific search engine, export of references...). The OpenURL link can be generated by different means.
  • If your librarian has set up your subscription with an OpenURL resolver, OpenURL links appear automatically on the abstract pages.
  • You can define your own OpenURL resolver with your EDPS Account. In this case your choice will be given priority over that of your library.
  • You can use an add-on for your browser (Firefox or I.E.) to display OpenURL links on a page (see http://www.openly.com/openurlref/). You should disable this module if you wish to use the OpenURL server that you or your library have defined.