X-ray Observations of Planetary Nebula

    Planetary nebulae represent late evolutionary stages of low- and intermediate-mass stars. In addition to soft photospheric X-ray emission from the hot, >100,000 K, central stars of planetary nebulae, diffuse X-ray emission from hot gas is also expected. X-ray observations of planetary nebulae are the key to assesing the action of fast stellar winds and collimated outflows in the formation and evolution of planetary nebulae.

    Diffuse X-ray emission from hot gas in planetary nebulae was hinted by ROSAT and ASCA observations, but only the improved sensitivity and spatial resolution of the Chandra and XMM-Newton observatories have allowed the unambiguous detection of hot gas from planetary nebula. Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of planetary nebulae have produced exquisite X-ray images and low-dispersion X-ray spectra used to determine the spatial distribution and physical properties of the hot gas in planetary nebulae. These observations are helping us to better assess the relative importance of fast stellar winds and collimated outflows in the shaping and evolution of planetary nebulae.

    We have undertaken a systematic study of all Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of planetary nebulae to provide a comprehensive picture of the generation and evolution of hot gas in planetary nebulae. This study is producing a database of X-ray observations of planetary nebulae that can be accessed from the following two lists:

    Chandra and XMM-Newton Observations of Planetary Nebulae

    Chandra and XMM-Newton Detections of Diffuse Emission from Planetary Nebulae