The planetary nebula luminosity function and its issues

Robin Ciardullo

doi:10.1017/S174392131600435X

The planetary nebula luminosity function and its issues

Robin Ciardullo

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The bright-end cutoff of the [O III] λ5007 planetary nebula luminosity function (PNLF) is insensitive to population age and metallicity, making it an excellent extragalactic standard candle. We review our knowledge of the function and discuss the challenges related to modeling it. We show that, while there has been a great deal of progress in understanding the nuances of its shape, there is still no solid theory which explains the luminosity of the PNLF cutoff in old stellar populations. This is an extremely serious problem, as it affects a myriad of astrophysical issues, from the determination of the stellar masses of galaxies to our understanding of alternative channels of stellar evolution.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	15-19
Number of pages	5
Journal	Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Volume	11
Issue number	A29B
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S174392131600435X
State	Published - 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Medicine (miscellaneous)
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Nutrition and Dietetics
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1017/S174392131600435X

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abstract = "The bright-end cutoff of the [O III] λ5007 planetary nebula luminosity function (PNLF) is insensitive to population age and metallicity, making it an excellent extragalactic standard candle. We review our knowledge of the function and discuss the challenges related to modeling it. We show that, while there has been a great deal of progress in understanding the nuances of its shape, there is still no solid theory which explains the luminosity of the PNLF cutoff in old stellar populations. This is an extremely serious problem, as it affects a myriad of astrophysical issues, from the determination of the stellar masses of galaxies to our understanding of alternative channels of stellar evolution.",

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AB - The bright-end cutoff of the [O III] λ5007 planetary nebula luminosity function (PNLF) is insensitive to population age and metallicity, making it an excellent extragalactic standard candle. We review our knowledge of the function and discuss the challenges related to modeling it. We show that, while there has been a great deal of progress in understanding the nuances of its shape, there is still no solid theory which explains the luminosity of the PNLF cutoff in old stellar populations. This is an extremely serious problem, as it affects a myriad of astrophysical issues, from the determination of the stellar masses of galaxies to our understanding of alternative channels of stellar evolution.

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The planetary nebula luminosity function and its issues

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

UN SDGs

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