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Title:
The Low- and Intermediate-Mass Stellar Population in the Small Magellanic Cloud: The Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae
Authors:
Villaver, Eva; Stanghellini, Letizia; Shaw, Richard A.
Affiliation:
AA(Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218; ), AB(National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719; , ; On leave from INAF-Bologna Observatory.), AC(National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719; , )
Publication:
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 614, Issue 2, pp. 716-726. (ApJ Homepage)
Publication Date:
10/2004
Origin:
UCP
ApJ Keywords:
Galaxies: Magellanic Clouds, ISM: Planetary Nebulae: General, Stars: AGB and Post-AGB, Stars: Evolution, Stars: Fundamental Parameters, Stars: Mass Loss
DOI:
10.1086/423832
Bibliographic Code:
2004ApJ...614..716V

Abstract

We present a study on the central stars (CSs) of planetary nebulae (PNs) observed in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) instrument on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The stellar magnitudes have been measured using broadband photometry, and Zanstra analysis of the nebulae provided the stellar temperatures. From the location of the CSs on the H-R diagram, and by comparing the observed CSs with current models of stellar evolution, we infer the CS masses. We examine closely the possibility of light contamination in the bandpass from an unrecognized stellar companion, and we establish strong constraints on the existence and nature of any binary companion. We find an average mass of 0.63 Msolar, which is similar to the mass obtained for a sample of CSs in the LMC (0.65 Msolar). However, the SMC and LMC CS mass distributions differ slightly, with the SMC sample lacking an intermediate-mass stellar population (0.65-0.75 Msolar). We discuss the significance and possible reasons for the difference between the two mass distributions. In particular, we consider the differences in the star formation history between the clouds and the mass-loss rate dependence on metallicity.

Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.

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