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Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto

An extensive study of planetary nebulae in the Galactic bulge
IV - The luminosity function as a probe of the planetary nebulae population

G. Stasińska, A. Fresneau, J. F. Gameiro, A. Acker

Abstract
Theoretically derived luminosity functions are compared to observational data regarding the (O III) and H-beta lines of the planetary nebulae (PN) in the Galactic bulge. The theoretical values are obtained for a subsample using Monte Carlo methods to generate different distributions of the central star masses and different physical properties. The nebular envelopes of the observed PN which have a mass of about 0.2 solar mass demonstrate luminosity functions that agree well with the computed values. Constraints are derived from the calculations on the central-star mass distributions of more than 0.56 solar mass. The results are found to support the standard model for the evolution of PN as described by the authors (1991) and are used to estimate the total number of PN in the Galactic bulge at 600-700.

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume 252, Page 762
December 1991

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Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) is a new but long anticipated research infrastructure with a national dimension. It embodies a bold but feasible vision for the development of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences in Portugal, taking full advantage and fully realizing the potential created by the national membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). IA resulted from the merging the two most prominent research units in the field in Portugal: the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP) and the Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Lisbon (CAAUL). It currently hosts more than two-thirds of all active researchers working in Space Sciences in Portugal, and is responsible for an even greater fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in the area of Space Sciences. This is the scientific area with the highest relative impact factor (1.65 times above the international average) and the field with the highest average number of citations per article for Portugal.

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