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[11.07] Taxonomy of Closed Ionized Shells: A look at the density profiles

H. Monteiro, H. Schwarz (CTIO), R. Gruenwald (IAG-USP)

We present a study of density profiles from [SII] line ratios for closed ionized shells under different ionizing conditions calculated with our 3-D photoionization code. We examine both spherical and elliptical closed shells. In particular we look at the results of very elongated elliptical shells and how the density profiles change with different ionizing conditions, pole to equator density gradients, and orientations on the sky. We show that spherical shells have flat profiles independent of shell thickness and that elongated ellipsoidal shells, with equator to pole density gradients projected in such a way as to produce an apparent circular morphology do not show this behaviour, allowing us to discriminate these two forms. We conclude that morphological studies must take into account orientation of the 3-D structure if a correct classification of PNe is to be obtained and that the [SII] density profile is a helpful diagnostic.

The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: hmonteiro@ctio.noao.edu

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35#5
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.