Mid-Infrared Imaging of the Bipolar Planetary Nebula M2-9 from SOFIA

Autor(en)
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
Abstrakt

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(en)
Institut für Astrophysik
Externe Organisation(en)
Universities Space Research Association, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Cornell University, University of California, Los Angeles, Ithaca College
Journal
The Astrophysical Journal
Band
780
Anzahl der Seiten
11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/780/2/156
Publikationsdatum
01-2014
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
103003 Astronomie, 103004 Astrophysik
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Science
Link zum Portal
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/8ad47882-c931-4b16-b51d-c4ff1707682b