Spectrophotometry of Bowen resonance fluorescence lines in three planetary nebulae

This thesis studies the Bowen resonance fluorescence mechanism of OIII in three planetary nebulae: NGC 6210, 7027, and 7662. It utilizes the best spectra to date of this phenomena in the wavelength range of 3100 A-3850 A. The data are presented in the form of flux ratios relative to the strong 3444.1 A line and compared to expectations based on current theory. Harrington's theoretical predictions which take into account the additional enhancement of some of the Bowen resonance fluorescence lines due to pumping of next higher energy level, OIII 2p3d $\sp3$P$\sbsp{1}{0}$, show agreement with NGC 7027 and 7662; however, predictions by Neufeld agree poorly for all three planetary nebulae studied. Enhancement by charge exchange reactions is quite evident in NGC 6210. Finally, the HeII 3203 A line is used to determine efficiencies of 0.57 and 0.48 for NGC 7027 and 7662 respectively, only slightly higher than Kallman and McCray's prediction of 0.42; while NGC 6210 yielded an impossible value of 1.37.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Natural Sciences

Grantor

Rice University

Year dc:date.issued

1992

Author dc:creator

• Miller, Christopher O.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• O'Dell, C. Robert

• Astronomy
• Astrophysics
• Atomic physics

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/13679

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/13679