arXiv subjects

M. A. Guerrero

Publications and source records attributed to M. A. Guerrero.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Hot gas in the Wolf-Rayet nebula NGC3199

The Wolf-Rayet (WR) nebula NGC3199 has been suggested to be a bow shock around its central star WR18, presumably a runaway star, because optical images of the nebula show a dominating arc of emission south-west of the star. We present the XMM-Newton detection of extended X-ray emission from NGC3199, unveiling the powerful effect of the fast wind from WR18. The X-ray emission is brighter in the region south-east of the star and analysis of the spectral properties of the X-ray emission reveals abundance variations: i) regions close to the optical arc present nitrogen-rich gas enhanced by the stellar wind from WR18 and ii) gas at the eastern region exhibits abundances close to those reported for nebular abundances derived from optical studies, signature of an efficient mixing of the nebular material with the stellar wind. The dominant plasma temperature and electron density are estimated to be $T\approx1.2\times$10$^{6}$ K and $n_\mathrm{e}$=0.3 cm$^{-3}$ with an X-ray luminosity in the 0.3-3.0 keV energy range of $L_\mathrm{X}$=2.6$\times$10$^{34}$ erg s$^{-1}$. Combined with information derived from Herschel and the recent Gaia first data release, we conclude that WR18 is not a runaway star and the formation, chemical variations, and shape of NGC3199 depend on the initial configuration of the interstellar medium.

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arXiv2017

Catching a Grown-Up Starfish Planetary Nebula: I. Morpho-Kinematical study of PC 22

We present the first part of an investigation on the planetary nebula (PN) PC 22 which focuses on the use of deep imaging and high resolution echelle spectroscopy to perform a detailed morpho-kinematical analysis. PC 22 is revealed to be a multipolar PN emitting predominantly in [O III] and displaying multiple non-symmetric outflows. Its central region is found to be also particularly inhomogeneous with a series of low ionization structures (knots) located on the path of the outflows. The morpho-kinematical model obtained with SHAPE indicates that i) the de-projected velocities of the outflows are rather large, > 100 km/s, while the central region has expansion velocities in the range ~25 to ~45 km/s following the "Wilson effect", ii) the majority of the measured structures share similar inclination, ~100 degrees, i.e. they are coplanar, and iii) all outflows and lobes are coeval (within the uncertainties). All these results make us to suggest that PC 22 is an evolved starfish PN. We propose that the mechanism responsible for the morphology of PC 22 consists of a wind-shell interaction, where the fast post-AGB wind flows through a filamentary AGB shell with some large voids.

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arXiv2016

(sub)Millimeter Emission Lines of Molecules in Born-again Stars

The detection and study of molecular gas in born-again stars would be of great importance to understand their composition and chemical evolution. In addition, the molecular emission would be an invaluable tool to explore the physical conditions, kinematics and formation of asymmetric structures in the circumstellar envelopes of these evolved stars. However, until now, all attempts to detect molecular emission from the cool material around born-again stars have failed. We carried out observations using the APEX and IRAM 30m telescopes to search for molecular emission toward four well studied born-again stars, V4334 Sgr, V605 Aql, A30 and A78, that are thought to represent an evolutionary sequence. We detected for the first time emission from HCN and H$^{13}$CN molecules toward V4334 Sgr, and CO emission in V605 Aql. No molecular emission was detected above the noise level toward A30 and A78. A first estimate of the H$^{12}$CN/H$^{13}$CN abundance ratio in the circumstellar environment of V4334 Sgr is $\approx$3, which is similar to the value of the $^{12}$C/$^{13}$C ratio measured from other observations. We derived a rotational temperature of $T_{\rm rot}$=13$\pm1$ K, and a total column density of $N_{\rm HCN}$=1.6$\pm0.1\times$10$^{16}$ cm$^{-2}$ for V4334 Sgr. This result sets a lower limit on the amount of hydrogen that was ejected into the wind during the born-again event of this source. For V605 Aql, we obtained a lower limit for the integrated line intensities $I_{^{12}\rm C}$/$I_{^{13}\rm C}$>4.

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arXiv2016

[WN] central stars of planetary nebulae

While most of the low-mass stars stay hydrogen-rich on their surface throughout their evolution, a considerable fraction of white dwarfs as well as central stars of planetary nebulae have a hydrogen-deficient surface composition. The majority of these H-deficient central stars exhibit spectra very similar to massive Wolf-Rayet stars of the carbon sequence, i.e. with broad emission lines of carbon, helium, and oxygen. In analogy to the massive Wolf-Rayet stars, they are classified as [WC] stars. Their formation, which is relatively well understood, is thought to be the result of a (very) late thermal pulse of the helium burning shell. It is therefore surprising that some H-deficient central stars which have been found recently, e.g. IC 4663 and Abell 48, exhibit spectra that resemble those of the massive Wolf-Rayet stars of the nitrogen sequence, i.e. with strong emission lines of nitrogen instead of carbon. This new type of central stars is therefore labelled [WN]. We present spectral analyses of these objects and discuss the status of further candidates as well as the evolutionary status and origin of the [WN] stars.

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arXiv2016

X-ray Observations of Bow Shocks around Runaway O Stars. The case of $ζ$ Oph and BD+43$^{\circ}$3654

Non-thermal radiation has been predicted within bow shocks around runaway stars by recent theoretical works. We present X-ray observations towards the runaway stars $ζ$ Oph (Chandra and Suzaku) and BD+43$^{\circ}$3654 (XMM-Newton) to search for the presence of non-thermal X-ray emission. We found no evidence of non-thermal emission spatially coincident with the bow shocks, nonetheless, diffuse emission is detected in the vicinity of $ζ$ Oph. After a careful analysis of its spectral characteristics we conclude that this emission has a thermal nature with a plasma temperature of $T \approx 2 \times10^{6}$ K. The cometary shape of this emission seems to be in line with recent predictions of radiation-hydrodynamic models of runaway stars. The case of BD+43$^{\circ}$3654 is puzzling as non-thermal emission has been reported in a previous work for this source.

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arXiv2015

X-ray emission from the Wolf-Rayet bubble NGC 6888. II. XMM-Newton EPIC observations

We present deep XMM-Newton EPIC observations of the Wolf-Rayet (WR) bubble NGC6888 around the star WR136. The complete X-ray mapping of the nebula confirms the distribution of the hot gas in three maxima spatially associated with the caps and northwest blowout hinted at by previous Chandra observations. The global X-ray emission is well described by a two-temperature optically thin plasma model $T_1$=1.4$\times$10$^{6}$ K, $T_{2}$=8.2$\times$10$^{6}$ K) with a luminosity of $L_{\mathrm{X}}$=7.8$\times$10$^{33}$ erg s$^{-1}$ in the 0.3--1.5 keV energy range. The rms electron density of the X-ray-emitting gas is estimated to be $n_\mathrm{e}$=0.4 cm$^{-3}$. The high-quality observations presented here reveal spectral variations within different regions in NGC6888, which allowed us for the first time to detect temperature and/or nitrogen abundance inhomogeneities in the hot gas inside a WR nebula. One possible explanation for such spectral variations is that the mixing of material from the outer nebula into the hot bubble is less efficient around the caps than in other nebular regions.

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arXiv2015

Diffuse X-ray Emission within Wolf-Rayet Nebulae

We discuss our most recent findings on the diffuse X-ray emission from Wolf-Rayet (WR) nebulae. The best-quality X-ray observations of these objects are those performed by XMM-Newton and Chandra towards S308, NGC2359, and NGC6888. Even though these three WR nebulae might have different formation scenarios, they all share similar characteristics: i) the main plasma temperatures of the X-ray-emitting gas is found to be $T$=[1-2]$\times$10$^{6}$ K, ii) the diffuse X-ray emission is confined inside the [O III] shell, and iii) their X-ray luminosities and electron densities in the 0.3-2.0~keV energy range are $L_\mathrm{X}\approx$10$^{33}$-10$^{34}$~erg~s$^{-1}$ and $n_\mathrm{e}\approx$0.1-1~cm$^{-3}$, respectively. These properties and the nebular-like abundances of the hot gas suggest mixing and/or thermal conduction is taking an important role reducing the temperature of the hot bubble.

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arXiv2015

A search for water maser emission toward obscured post-AGB star and planetary nebula candidates

Water maser emission at 22 GHz is a useful probe to study the transition between the nearly spherical mass-loss in the AGB to a collimated one in the post-AGB phase. In their turn, collimated jets in the post-AGB phase could determine the shape of planetary nebulae (PNe) once photoionization starts. We intend to find new cases of post-AGB stars and PNe with water maser emission, including water fountains or water-maser-emitting PNe. We observed water maser emission in a sample of 133 objects, with a significant fraction being post-AGB and young PN candidate sources with strong obscuration. We detected this emission in 15 of them, of which seven are reported here for the first time. We identified three water fountain candidates: IRAS 17291-2147, with a total velocity spread of ~96 km/s in its water maser components and two sources (IRAS 17021-3109 and IRAS 17348-2906) that show water maser emission outside the velocity range covered by OH masers. We have also identified IRAS 17393-2727 as a possible new water-maser-emitting PN. The detection rate is higher in obscured objects (14%) than in those with optical counterparts (7%), consistent with previous results. Water maser emission seems to be common in objects that are bipolar in the near-IR (43% detection rate). The water maser spectra of water fountain candidates like IRAS 17291-2147 show significantly less maser components than others (e.g., IRAS 18113-2503). We speculate that most post-AGBs may show water maser emission with wide enough velocity spread (> 100 km/s) when observed with enough sensitivity and/or for long enough periods of time. Therefore, it may be necessary to single out a special group of "water fountains", probably defined by their high maser luminosities. We also suggest that the presence of both water and OH masers in a PN is a better tracer of its youth, rather than the presence of just one of these species.

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arXiv2015

WISE morphological study of Wolf-Rayet nebulae

We present a morphological study of nebulae around Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars using archival narrow-band optical and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) infrared images. The comparison among WISE images in different bands and optical images proves to be a very efficient procedure to identify the nebular emission from WR nebulae, and to disentangle it from that of the ISM material along the line of sight. In particular, WR nebulae are clearly detected in the WISE W4 band at 22 $μ$m. Analysis of available mid-IR Spitzer spectra shows that the emission in this band is dominated by thermal emission from dust spatially coincident with the thin nebular shell or most likely with the leading edge of the nebula. The WR nebulae in our sample present different morphologies that we classified into well defined WR bubbles (bubble ${\cal B}$-type nebulae), clumpy and/or disrupted shells (clumpy/disrupted ${\cal C}$-type nebulae), and material mixed with the diffuse medium (mixed ${\cal M}$-type nebulae). The variety of morphologies presented by WR nebulae shows a loose correlation with the central star spectral type, implying that the nebular and stellar evolutions are not simple and may proceed according to different sequences and time-lapses. We report the discovery of an obscured shell around WR35 only detected in the infrared.

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arXiv2014

The first "water fountain" collimated outflow in a planetary nebula

"Water fountains" (WFs) are evolved objects showing high-velocity, collimated jets traced by water maser emission. Most of them are in the post-Asymptotic Giant Branch and they may represent one of the first manifestations of collimated mass loss in evolved stars. We present water maser, carbon monoxide, and mid-infrared spectroscopic data (obtained with the Australia Telescope Compact Array, Herschel Space Observatory, and the Very Large Telescope, respectively) toward IRAS 15103--5754, a possible planetary nebula (PN) with WF characteristics. Carbon monoxide observations show that IRAS 15103-5754 is an evolved object, while the mid-IR spectrum displays unambiguous [NeII] emission, indicating that photoionization has started and thus, its nature as a PN is confirmed. Water maser spectra show several components spreading over a large velocity range ~75 km/s and tracing a collimated jet. This indicates that the object is a WF, the first WF known that has already entered the PN phase. However, the spatial and kinematical distribution of the maser emission in this object are significantly different from those in other WFs. Moreover, the velocity distribution of the maser emission shows a "Hubble-like" flow (higher velocities at larger distances from the central star), consistent with a short-lived, explosive mass-loss event. This velocity pattern is not seen in other WFs (presumably in earlier evolutionary stages). We therefore suggest that we are witnessing a fundamental change of mass-loss processes in WFs, with water masers being pumped by steady jets in post-AGB stars, but tracing explosive/ballistic events as the object enters the PN phase.

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arXiv2014

The Chandra Planetary Nebulae Survey (ChanPlaNS): III. X-ray Emission from the Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae

We present X-ray spectral analysis of 20 point-like X-ray sources detected in Chandra Planetary Nebula Survey (ChanPlaNS) observations of 59 planetary nebulae (PNe) in the solar neighborhood. Most of these 20 detections are associated with luminous central stars within relatively young, compact nebulae. The vast majority of these point-like X-ray-emitting sources at PN cores display relatively "hard" ($\geq0.5$~keV) X-ray emission components that are unlikely to be due to photospheric emission from the hot central stars (CSPN). Instead, we demonstrate that these sources are well modeled by optically-thin thermal plasmas. From the plasma properties, we identify two classes of CSPN X-ray emission: (1) high-temperature plasmas with X-ray luminosities, $L_{\rm X}$, that appear uncorrelated with the CSPN bolometric luminosity, $L_{\rm bol}$; and (2) lower-temperature plasmas with $L_{\rm X}/L_{\rm bol}\sim10^{-7}$. We suggest these two classes correspond to the physical processes of magnetically active binary companions and self-shocking stellar winds, respectively. In many cases this conclusion is supported by corroborative multiwavelength evidence for the wind and binary properties of the PN central stars. By thus honing in on the origins of X-ray emission from PN central stars, we enhance the ability of CSPN X-ray sources to constrain models of PN shaping that invoke wind interactions and binarity.

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arXiv2014

The born-again planetary nebula A78: an X-ray twin of A30

We present the XMM-Newton discovery of X-ray emission from the planetary nebula (PN) A78, the second born-again PN detected in X-rays apart from A30. These two PNe share similar spectral and morphological characteristics: They harbor diffuse soft X-ray emission associated with the interaction between the H-poor ejecta and the current fast stellar wind, and a point-like source at the position of the central star (CSPN). We present the spectral analysis of the CSPN, using for the first time a NLTE code for expanding atmospheres which takes line blanketing into account for the UV and optical spectra. The wind abundances are used for the X-ray spectral analysis of the CSPN and the diffuse emission. The X-ray emission from the CSPN in A78 can be modeled by a single C VI emission line, while the X-ray emission from its diffuse component is better described by an optically thin plasma emission model with temperature $kT$=0.088 keV ($T\approx$1.0$\times$10${^6}$ K). We estimate X-ray luminosities in the 0.2--2.0 keV energy band of $L_{\mathrm{X,CSPN}}$=(1.2$\pm$0.3)$\times$10$^{31}$ erg~s$^{-1}$ and $L_{\mathrm{X,DIFF}}$=(9.2$\pm$2.3)$\times$10$^{30}$ erg~s$^{-1}$ for the CSPN and diffuse components, respectively.

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arXiv2014

XMM-Newton RGS observations of the Cat's Eye Nebula

We present an analysis of XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) observations of the planetary nebula (PN) NGC 6543, rendering it the second PN with high resolution X-ray spectroscopic observations besides BD+30 3639. The observations consist of 26 pointings, of which 14 included RGS observations for a total integration time of 435 ks. Many of these observations, however, were severely affected by high-background levels, and the net useful exposure time is drastically reduced to 25 ks. Only the O VII triplet at 22 Å is unambiguously detected in the RGS spectrum of NGC 6543. We find this spectrum consistent with an optically thin plasma at 0.147 keV (1.7 MK) and nebular abundances. Unlike the case of BD+30 3639, the X-ray emission from NGC 6543 does not reveal overabundances of C and Ne. The results suggest the N/O ratio of the hot plasma is consistent with that of the stellar wind, i.e., lower than the nebular N/O ratio, but this result is not conclusive.

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arXiv2014

On the diffuse X-ray emission from the Wolf-Rayet Bubble NGC 2359

A recent XMM-Newton observation (Zhekov 2014) has revealed diffuse X-ray emission inside the nebula NGC 2359 around the Wolf-Rayet star WR 7. Taking advantage of an improved point-source rejection and background subtraction, and a detailed comparison of optical and X-ray morphology, we have reanalyzed these X-ray observations. Our analysis reveals diffuse X-ray emission from a blowout and the presence of emission at energies from 1.0 to 2.0 keV. The X-ray emission from NGC 2359 can be described by an optically-thin plasma emission model, but contrary to previous analysis, we find that the chemical abundances of this plasma are similar to those of the optical nebula, with no magnesium enhancement, and that two components at temperatures T_1=2x10^6 K and T_2=5.7x10^7 K are required. The estimated X-ray luminosity in the 0.3 - 2.0 keV energy range is L_X=2x10^33 erg s^-1. The averaged rms electron density of the X-ray-emitting gas (n_e \lesssim 0.6 cm^-3) reinforces the idea of mixing of material from the outer nebula into the hot bubble.

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arXiv2014

The Chandra Planetary Nebula Survey (ChanPlaNS). II. X-ray Emission from Compact Planetary Nebulae

We present results from the most recent set of observations obtained as part of the Chandra X-ray observatory Planetary Nebula Survey (ChanPlaNS), the first comprehensive X-ray survey of planetary nebulae (PNe) in the solar neighborhood (i.e., within ~1.5 kpc of the Sun). The survey is designed to place constraints on the frequency of appearance and range of X-ray spectral characteristics of X-ray-emitting PN central stars and the evolutionary timescales of wind-shock-heated bubbles within PNe. ChanPlaNS began with a combined Cycle 12 and archive Chandra survey of 35 PNe. ChanPlaNS continued via a Chandra Cycle 14 Large Program which targeted all (24) remaining known compact (R_neb <~ 0.4 pc), young PNe that lie within ~1.5 kpc. Results from these Cycle 14 observations include first-time X-ray detections of hot bubbles within NGC 1501, 3918, 6153, and 6369, and point sources in HbDs 1, NGC 6337, and Sp 1. The addition of the Cycle 14 results brings the overall ChanPlaNS diffuse X-ray detection rate to ~27% and the point source detection rate to ~36%. It has become clearer that diffuse X-ray emission is associated with young (<~5x10^3 yr), and likewise compact (R_neb<~0.15 pc), PNe with closed structures and high central electron densities (n_e>~1000 cm^-3), and rarely associated with PNe that show H_2 emission and/or pronounced butterfly structures. Hb 5 is one such exception of a PN with a butterfly structure that hosts diffuse X-ray emission. Additionally, of the five new diffuse X-ray detections, two host [WR]-type CSPNe, NGC 1501 and NGC 6369, supporting the hypothesis that PNe with central stars of [WR]-type are likely to display diffuse X-ray emission.

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arXiv2014

Late Variability of Flux and Spectra of the Tidal Disruption Flare Sw J1644+57 from XMM-Newton data

We describe the late spectral variability and flux evolution of TDF Sw J1644+57, a Tidal Disruption Flare which left the typical potential trend proportional to $t^{-5/3}$ in 2012, maintaining a quiescent flux until nowadays. Sixteen X-ray observations of ESA satellite \emph{XMM-Newton} have been used in this study, including the one performed on 17$^{\rm th}$July, 2013. A search for optical emission in BOOTES/CASANDRA database has been performed too. Late X-ray fluxes show that the source flux decline does not follow the expected TDF trend at the time of the last \emph{XMM-Newton} observation. Moreover, the spectra fitting parameters, in particular the neutral hydrogen column density, N$_{\rm H}$, and the power-law index, $Γ$, indicate that the source darkening has diminished and that the spectral shape has flattened with time. The disruption of the star could have come to an end. Nevertheless, a quiescent X-ray flux continues. Evidence for a quiescent X-ray flux is presented.

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arXiv2013

X-ray Emission from the Wolf-Rayet Bubble NGC 6888. I. Chandra ACIS-S Observations

We analyze Chandra observations of the Wolf-Rayet (WR) bubble NGC 6888. This WR bubble presents similar spectral and morphological X-ray characteristics to those of S 308, the only other WR bubble also showing X-ray emission. The observed spectrum is soft, peaking at the N VII line emission at 0.5 keV with additional line emission at 0.7 - 0.9 keV and a weak tail of harder emission up to ~1.5 keV. This spectrum can be described by a two-temperature optically thin plasma emission model (T_{1}~1.4x10^{6} K, T_{2}~7.4x10^{6} K). We confirm the results of previous X-ray observations that no noticeable temperature variations are detected in the nebula. The X-ray-emitting plasma is distributed in three apparent morphological components: two caps along the tips of the major axis and an extra contribution toward the northwest blowout not reported in previous analysis of the X-ray emission toward this WR nebula. Using the plasma model fits of the Chandra ACIS spectra for the physical properties of the hot gas and the ROSAT PSPC image to account for the incomplete coverage of Chandra observations, we estimate a luminosity of L_X = (7.7\pm0.1)x10^{33} erg/s for NGC 6888 at a distance of 1.26 kpc. The average rms electron density of the X-ray-emitting gas is >= 0.4 cm^{-3} for a total mass >= 1.2 Msun.

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arXiv2013

Absence of hot gas within the Wolft-Rayet Bubble around WR16

We present the analysis of XMM-Newton archival observations towards the Wolf-Rayet (WR) bubble around WR16. Despite the closed bubble morphology of this WR nebula, the XMM-Newton observations show no evidence of diffuse emission in its interior as in the similar WR bubbles NGC6888 and S308. We use the present observations to estimate a 3-σupper limit to the X-ray luminosity in the 0.3-1.5 keV energy band equal to 7.4x10^{32} erg s^{-1} for the diffuse emission from the WR nebula, assuming a distance of 2.37 kpc. The WR nebula around WR16 is the fourth observed by the current generation of X-ray satellites and the second not detected. We also examine FUSE spectra to search for nebular O VI absorption lines in the stellar continuum of WR16. The present far-UV data and the lack of measurements of the dynamics of the optical WR bubble do not allow us to confirm the existence of a conductive layer of gas at T~3x10^5 K between the cold nebular gas and the hot gas in its interior. The present observations result in an upper limit of n_e < 0.6 cm^-3 on the electron density of the X-ray emitting material within the nebula.

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