Filaments as Possible Signatures of Magnetic Field Structure in Planetary Nebulae

Abstract

We draw attention to the extreme filamentary structures seen in high-resolution optical images of certain planetary nebulae. We determine the physical properties of the filaments in the nebulae IC 418, NGC 3132, and NGC 6537, and based on their large length-to-width ratios, longitudinal coherence, and morphology, we suggest that they may be signatures of the underlying magnetic field. The fields needed for the coherence of the filaments are probably consistent with those measured in the precursor circumstellar envelopes. The filaments suggest that magnetic fields in planetary nebulae may have a localized and thread-like geometry.

arXiv comment26 pages with 7 figures. To be published in PASP. For full resolution images see http://physics.nyu.edu/~pjh1

References in corpus (10)

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Cited by in corpus (12)

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• Molecular survey of CRL618
• A CO Survey of Young Planetary Nebulae
• First detection of surface magnetic fields in Post-AGB stars : the cases of U Monocerotis and R Scuti
• VLT / Infrared Integral Field Spectrometer Observations of Molecular Hydrogen Lines in the Knots in the Planetary Nebula NGC 7293 (the Helix Nebula)
• The Shapes of AGB Envelopes as Probes of Binary Companions
• Magnetic fields in central stars of planetary nebulae?
• Probing the Magnetized Interstellar Medium Surrounding the Planetary Nebula Sh 2-216
• Discovery of Multiple Shells Around the Planetary Nebula IC 418
• Magnetic fields in circumstellar envelopes of evolved AGB stars