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12C/13C ratio in planetary nebulae from the IUE archives

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rubin, RH; Ferland, GJ; Chollet, EE; Horstmeyer, R
Published in: Astrophysical Journal
April 20, 2004

We investigated the abundance ratio of 12C/13C in planetary nebulae by examining emission lines arising from C III 2s2p 3P2,1,00 → 2s21S0. Spectra were retrieved from the International Ultraviolet Explorer archives, and multiple spectra of the same object were co-added to achieve improved signal-to-noise ratio. The 13C hyperfine structure line at 1909.6 Å was detected in NGC 2440. The 12C/13C ratio was found to be ∼4.4 ± 1.2. In all other objects, we provide an upper limit for the flux of the 1910 Å line. For 23 of these sources, a lower limit for the 12C/ 13C ratio was established. The impact on our current understanding of stellar evolution is discussed. The resulting high-signal-to-noise ratio C in spectrum helps constrain the atomic physics of the line formation process. Some objects have the measured 1907/1909 Å flux ratio outside the low-electron density theoretical limit for 12C. A mixture of 13C with 12C helps to close the gap somewhat. Nevertheless, some observed 1907/1909 Å flux ratios still appear too high to conform to the currently predicted limits. It is shown that this limit, as well as the 1910/1909 Å flux ratio, are predominantly influenced by using the standard partitioning among the collision strengths for the multiplet 1S0 - 3PJ0 according to the statistical weights. A detailed calculation for the fine-structure collision strengths between these individual levels would be valuable.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Astrophysical Journal

DOI

EISSN

1538-4357

ISSN

0004-637X

Publication Date

April 20, 2004

Volume

605

Issue

2 I

Start / End Page

784 / 792

Related Subject Headings

  • Astronomy & Astrophysics
  • 5109 Space sciences
  • 5107 Particle and high energy physics
  • 5101 Astronomical sciences
  • 0306 Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
  • 0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics
  • 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences
 

Citation

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MLA
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Rubin, R. H., Ferland, G. J., Chollet, E. E., & Horstmeyer, R. (2004). 12C/13C ratio in planetary nebulae from the IUE archives. Astrophysical Journal, 605(2 I), 784–792. https://doi.org/10.1086/382528
Rubin, R. H., G. J. Ferland, E. E. Chollet, and R. Horstmeyer. “12C/13C ratio in planetary nebulae from the IUE archives.” Astrophysical Journal 605, no. 2 I (April 20, 2004): 784–92. https://doi.org/10.1086/382528.
Rubin RH, Ferland GJ, Chollet EE, Horstmeyer R. 12C/13C ratio in planetary nebulae from the IUE archives. Astrophysical Journal. 2004 Apr 20;605(2 I):784–92.
Rubin, R. H., et al. “12C/13C ratio in planetary nebulae from the IUE archives.” Astrophysical Journal, vol. 605, no. 2 I, Apr. 2004, pp. 784–92. Scopus, doi:10.1086/382528.
Rubin RH, Ferland GJ, Chollet EE, Horstmeyer R. 12C/13C ratio in planetary nebulae from the IUE archives. Astrophysical Journal. 2004 Apr 20;605(2 I):784–792.
Journal cover image

Published In

Astrophysical Journal

DOI

EISSN

1538-4357

ISSN

0004-637X

Publication Date

April 20, 2004

Volume

605

Issue

2 I

Start / End Page

784 / 792

Related Subject Headings

  • Astronomy & Astrophysics
  • 5109 Space sciences
  • 5107 Particle and high energy physics
  • 5101 Astronomical sciences
  • 0306 Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
  • 0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics
  • 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences