Comparing Symbiotic Nebulae and Planetary Nebulae Luminosity Functions
arXiv:0906.4356 · doi:10.1088/0004-637X/703/2/L95
Abstract
We compare the observed symbiotic nebulae (SyN) luminosity function (SyNLF) in the [O III] 5007A line to the planetary nebulae (PN) luminosity function (PNLF) and find that the intrinsic SyNLF (ISyNLF) of galactic SyNs has - within its uncertainty of 0.5-0.8mag - very similar cutoff luminosity and general shape to those of the PNLF. The [O III]/(Halpha+[N II]) line ratios of SyNs and PNs are shown to be also related. Possible implications of these results for the universality of the PNLF are briefly outlined.
Accepted by ApJ Letters