Space Velocity and Time Span of Jets in Planetary Nebulae

Abstract

Fast highly-collimated outflows including bipolar knots, jet-like features, and point-symmetric filaments or string of knots are common in planetary nebulae (PNe). These features, generally named as jets, are thought to play an active role in the nebular shaping immediately before or at the same time that fast stellar winds and D-type ionization fronts shock and sweep up the nebular envelope. The space velocity, radial distance from the central star and kinematic age of jets in PNe cannot be determined because the inclination anglewith the line-of-sight is usually unknown. Here we have used the large number of jets already detected in PNe to derive orientation-independent properties from a statistical point of view. We find that jets in PNe can be assigned to two different populations: a significant fraction ($\simeq$70%) have space velocities below 100 km s${}^{-1}$, whereas only $\simeq$30% have larger velocities. Many jets move at velocities similar to that of their parent PNe and are found close to the nebular edge. We propose that these jets have been slowed down in their interaction with the nebular envelope, contributing to the expansion of their PN. The time span before a jet dissolves is found to be generally shorter than 2,500 yrs. Since most jets are found in young PNe of similar (1,000-3,000 yrs) age, it can be concluded that jets are mostly coeval with their PNe.

19 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication by ApJ

References in corpus (12)

• Proof of polar ejection fom the close-binary core of the planetary nebula Abell 63
• Shaping Planetary Nebulae by Light Jets
• Multiple and Precessing Collimated Outflows in the Planetary Nebula IC 4634
• Formation and X-ray Emission from Hot Bubbles in Planetary Nebulae. II. Hot bubble X-ray emission
• H${}_2$ in low-ionization structures of planetary nebulae
• Models of the Mass-Ejection Histories of pre Planetary Nebulae, IV. Magnetized Winds and the Origins of Jets, Bullets, and FLIERs
• The planetary nebula IC 4776 and its post-common-envelope binary central star
• Models of the Mass-Ejection Histories of pre Planetary Nebulae, III. The Shaping of Lobes by post-AGB Winds
• High velocity string of knots in the outburst of the Planetary Nebula Hb4
• Observations and 3D Hydrodynamical models of planetary nebulae with Wolf Rayet type central stars
• The post-common-envelope X-ray binary nucleus of the planetary nebula NGC 2392
• Resolved imaging of the AR Puppis circumbinary disk

Cited by in corpus (16)

• Planetary Nebulae: Sources of Enlightenment
• Bipolar planetary nebulae from common envelope evolution of binary stars
• Tomography of the unique on-going jet in the planetary nebula NGC 2392
• Common Envelope Shaping of Planetary Nebulae. IV. From Proto-planetary to Planetary Nebula
• The ionised and molecular mass of post-common-envelope planetary nebulae. The missing mass problem
• Low-ionization structures in planetary nebulae -- II. Densities, temperatures, abundances and excitation of 6 PNe
• Low-ionization structures in planetary nebulae -- III. The statistical analysis of physico-chemical parameters and excitation mechanisms
• Magnetically driven outflows in 3D common-envelope evolution of massive stars
• The origin of the planetary nebula M 1-16. A morphokinematic and chemical analysis
• The common envelope origins of the fast jet in the planetary nebula M 3-38
• The five axes of the Turtle: symmetry and asymmetry in NGC 6210
• On the nature of jets from a main sequence companion at the onset of common envelope evolution
• Emerging planetary nebulae within 3D spiral patterns
• A MultiWavelength Study of the Symbiotic Mira HM Sge with SOFIA and HST
• [Fe II] 1.644$\mu$m imaging survey of planetary nebulae with low-ionisation structures
• Low-ionization structures in planetary nebulae -- IV. The molecular hydrogen counterpart