Planetary nebulae with Wolf-Rayet-type central stars — II. Dissecting the compact planetary nebula M2-31 with GTC MEGARA [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2108.10279


We present a comprehensive analysis of the compact planetary nebula M2-31 investigating its spectral properties, spatio-kinematical structure and chemical composition using GTC MEGARA integral field spectroscopic observations and NOT ALFOSC medium-resolution spectra and narrow-band images. The GTC MEGARA high-dispersion observations have remarkable tomographic capabilities, producing an unprecedented view of the morphology and kinematics of M2-31 that discloses a fast spectroscopic bipolar outflow along position angles 50$^\circ$ and 230$^\circ$, an extended shell and a toroidal structure or waist surrounding the central star perpendicularly aligned with the fast outflows. These observations also show that the C II emission is confined in the central region and enclosed by the [N II] emission. This is the first time that the spatial segregation revealed by a 2D map of the C II line implies the presence of multiple plasma components. The deep NOT ALFOSC observations allowed us to detect broad WR features from the central star of M2-31, including previously undetected broad O VI lines that suggest a reclassification as a [WO4]-type star.

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J. Rechy-García, J. Toalá, S. Cazzoli, et. al.
Tue, 24 Aug 21
42/76

Comments: 12 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables; accepted to MNRAS