Mid-Infrared Imaging of the Bipolar Planetary Nebula M2-9 from SOFIA
- Author(s)
- M. W. Werner, R. Sahai, J. Davis, John Livingston, F. Lykou, James de Buizer, M. R. Morris, Luke D. Keller, J. Adams, George E. Gull, C. P. Henderson, T. Herter, J. Schoenwald
- Abstract
We have imaged the bipolar planetary nebula M2-9 using SOFIA's FORCAST instrument in six wavelength bands between 6.6 and 37.1 $\mu m$. A bright central point source, unresolved with SOFIA's $\sim$ 4${''}$-to-5${''}$ beam, is seen at each wavelength, and the extended bipolar lobes are clearly seen at 19.7 $\mu m$ and beyond. The photometry between 10 and 25 $\mu m$ is well fit by the emission predicted from a stratified disk seen at large inclination, as has been proposed for this source by Lykou et al and by Smith and Gehrz. The principal new results in this paper relate to the distribution and properties of the dust that emits the infrared radiation. In particular, a considerable fraction of this material is spread uniformly through the lobes, although the dust density does increase at the sharp outer edge seen in higher resolution optical images of M2-9. The dust grain population in the lobes shows that small ($ $ 1 $\mu m$) particles appear to be present in roughly equal amounts by mass. We suggest that collisional processing within the bipolar outflow plays an important role in establishing the particle size distribution.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Astrophysics
- External organisation(s)
- Universities Space Research Association, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Cornell University, University of California, Los Angeles, Ithaca College
- Journal
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Volume
- 780
- No. of pages
- 11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/780/2/156
- Publication date
- 01-2014
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Science
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/8ad47882-c931-4b16-b51d-c4ff1707682b