The 12C/13C ratio in the Planetary Nebula NGC3242 from Hubble Space Telescope STIS observations

Abstract

We present high resolution HST ultraviolet spectroscopy of NGC3242, the only planetary nebula with a measured abundance of 3He. The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) has been used to observe the CIII multiplet near 1908 A. The presence of 12C and 13C lines at these wavelengths allows a direct estimate of the carbon isotopic ratio in the ionized gas of the nebula. We have detected the 12C doublet and obtained an upper limit on the 13C 1909.6 A line, resulting in a carbon isotopic ratio 12C/13C > 38, in agreement with standard stellar models. The lack of the 13C line and the presence of the 3He line in the spectrum indicate that the progenitor star did not undergo a phase of deep mixing during the last stages of its evolution. The significance of this result for studies of stellar nucleosynthesis and Galactic chemical evolution is discussed.

arXiv comment12 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX. The Astrophysical Journal Letters, in press

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