Search

Context. Close binary central stars of planetary nebulae (PNe) must have formed through a common envelope evolution during the giant phase experienced by one of the stars. Transfer of the angular momentum from the binary system to the envelope leads to the shortening of the binary separations from the radius of red giant to the radius of the order of few tenths of AU. Thus, close binary central stars of planetary nebulae are laboratories to study the common envelope phase of evolution. The close binary fraction in the Galaxy has been measured in various sky surveys, but the close binary fraction is not yet well constrained for the Magellanic Clouds, and our results may help the study of common envelope evolution in low-metallicity environments. Aims. This paper presents a continuation of our study of variability in the Magellanic Cloud planetary nebulae on the basis of data from the OGLE survey. Previously, we had analysed the OGLE data in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Here, the study is extended to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). In this paper we search for close binary central stars with the aim to constrain the binary fraction and period distribution in the LMC. Methods. We identified 290 counterparts of PNe in the LMC in the I-band images from the OGLE-III and OGLE-IV surveys. However, the light curves of ten objects were not accessible in the OGLE database, and thus we analysed the time series photometry of 280 PNe. Results. In total, 32 variables were found, but 5 of them turned out to be foreground objects. Another 18 objects show irregular or regular variability that is not attributable to the binarity of their central stars. Their status and the nature of their variability will be verified in the follow-up paper. Nine binary central stars of PNe with periods between 0.24 and 23.6 days were discovered. The obtained fraction for the LMC PNe is 3.3-1.6+2.6% without correcting for incompleteness. This number is significantly lower than the 12–21% derived in the analogous search in the Galactic bulge. We discuss this difference, taking into account observational biases. The lower binary fraction suggests a lower efficiency of the common envelope phase in producing close binaries in the LMC compared to the Galaxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE), originally designed to search for microlensing events, provides a rich and uniform data set suitable for studying the variability of certain types of objects. We used the OGLE data to study the photometry of central stars of planetary nebulae (PNe) in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). In particular, we searched for close binary central stars with the aim to constrain the binary fraction and period distribution in the SMC.We also searched for PNe mimics and removed them from the PNe sample. Methods. We identified 52 counterparts of PNe in the SMC in the I-band images from the OGLE-II and OGLE-III surveys. We analysed the time-series photometry of the PNe. Spectra of the photometric variables were obtained to constrain the nature of the objects or search for additional evidence for binarity. Results. Eight variables were found. Of these, seven objects are PNe mimics, including one symbiotic star candidate. One close binary central star of PN with a period of 1.15 or 2.31 day was discovered. The obtained binary fraction for the SMC PNe and the observational biases are discussed in terms of the OGLE observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyse the remnants of CK Vul (Nova Vul 1670) using optical imaging and spectroscopy. The imaging, obtained between 1991 and 2010, spans 5.6 per cent of the lifetime of the nebula. The flux of the nebula decreased during the last two decades. The central source still maintains the ionization of the innermost part of the nebula, but recombination proceeds in more distant parts of the nebula. Surprisingly, we discovered two stars located within 10 arcsec of the expansion centre of the radio emission that are characterized by pronounced long-term variations and one star with high proper motion. The high proper motion star is a foreground object, and the two variable stars are background objects. The photometric variations of two variables are induced by a dusty cloud ejected by CK Vul and passing through the line of sight to those stars. The cloud leaves strong lithium absorption in the spectra of the stars. We discuss the nature of the object in terms of recent observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sample of 33 [WR] and wels (weak emission-line central stars) central stars of planetary nebulae was observed in order to search for binary nuclei. One close binary system was discovered. The central star of PN G is the first [WR] star in a close binary system known, with a period of . The fraction of close binary central stars, leading to photometrical variability, is lower among the hydrogen-poor [WR] stars and wels than among their hydrogen-rich counterparts. This may indicate larger orbital separations or an intrinsically lower binary fraction among [WR] and wels central stars. The detection of one close binary system among the [WR] stars shows that common-envelope evolution does not preclude such stars. It also shows that although a stellar merger is a possible evolutionary channel towards H-poor emission-line stars, it cannot form the only such channel, as PN G has avoided a merger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CK Vul is classified as, amongst others, the slowest known nova, a hibernating nova or a very late thermal pulse object. Following its eruption inad 1670, the star remained visible for 2 yr. A 15-arcsec nebula was discovered in the 1980s, but the star itself has not been detected since the eruption. We here present radio images which reveal a 0.1-arcsec radio source with a flux of 1.5 mJy at 5 GHz. Deep Hα images show a bipolar nebula with a longest extension of 70 arcsec, with the previously known compact nebula at its waist. The emission-line ratios show that the gas is shock-ionized, at velocities . Dust emission yields an envelope mass of . Echelle spectra indicate outflow velocities up to 360 km s−1. From a comparison of images obtained in 1991 and 2004 we find evidence for expansion of the nebula, consistent with an origin in the 1670 explosion; the measured expansion is centred on the radio source. No optical or infrared counterpart is found at the position of the radio source. The radio emission is interpreted as thermal free–free emission from gas with . The radio source may be due to a remnant circumbinary disc, similar to those seen in some binary post-AGB stars. We discuss possible classifications of this unique outburst, including that of a sub-Chandrasekhar mass supernova, a nova eruption on a cool, low-mass white dwarf or a thermal pulse induced by accretion from a circumbinary disc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]