Roldán A. Cala

Stars such as the Sun expel their outer layers and form planetary nebulae (PNe) as they evolve into white dwarfs. PNe exhibit diverse morphologies, the origins of which are not fully understood. PNe with OH (OHPNe) and H ₂ O (H ₂ OPNe) masers are thought to be nascent PNe. However, the number of known OHPNe and H ₂ OPNe remains small, and only in eight cases has the position of the maser emission been found to coincide with the PN, using the high astrometric accuracy of interferometric observations. In order to identify more OHPNe and H ₂ OPNe, we used public databases and our own ATCA/VLA observations to match the positions of OH and H ₂ O masers with known PNe and radio continuum emitters, considering radio continuum emission as a possible tracer of the photoionized gas that characterizes PNe. Here we report the confirmation of positional coincidence of maser emission with one more PN, and 12 PN candidates. Moreover, we have confirmed three evolved stars as ‘water fountains’ (WFs) hosting H ₂ O masers. These WFs are associated with radio continuum emission, but their possible nature as PNe has not yet been confirmed. Although a final characterization of maser-emitting PNe as a group still requires confirmation of more objects, their distribution in the infrared color-color diagrams suggests that they are a heterogeneous group of PNe. In particular, the new OHPN IRAS 07027–7934 has been reported to contain a late [WC]-type central star, while the maser emission implies an O-rich envelope. This property is found in only one other known maser-emitting PN, although we found evidence that other confirmed and candidate OHPNe may also have mixed chemistry, since they show emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The new WF IRAS 18443–0231 shows radio continuum that is dominated by strong and variable non-thermal emission, as in magnetized outflows.

“Water fountains” (WFs) are optically obscured evolved stars. Most of them are thought to be in the post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) phase, and they are characterized by H ₂ O maser emission tracing molecular jets. Interestingly, four WFs (IRAS 15445−5449, IRAS 18019−2216, IRAS 18443−0231, and IRAS 18464−0140) and one WF candidate (IRAS 18480+0008) are potentially planetary nebulae (PNe) because they exhibit radio continuum emission, suggesting the presence of a photoionized region characteristic of PNe. To classify these objects, we obtained K -band (2.0–2.3 μm) spectra of these WFs, including the only WF PN known (IRAS 15103−5754) for comparison. Our spectra reveal two groups of sources: (i) “low-velocity” WFs with an H ₂ O maser velocity spread of ≲50 km s ⁻¹ (IRAS 18019−2216, IRAS 18464−0140, and IRAS 18480+0008) showing the CO band at 2.29 μm in absorption, typical of cool giant stars, and no emission lines, and (ii) “high-velocity” WFs, velocity spread of ≳50 km s ⁻¹ (IRAS 15103−5754, IRAS 15445−5449, and IRAS 18443−0231), exhibiting emission lines of Br γ , He I , and H ₂ , consistent with hotter central stars and/or shock-excited emission. The emission line ratios of these lines in IRAS 18443−0231 indicate that it may be a nascent PN. The spectrum of IRAS 15445−5449 also shows a CO band and Na I doublet in emission, suggesting the presence of a compact circumstellar disk and/or active mass loss. These results favor the previously suggested notion that the difference between low- and high-velocity WFs is not simply a projection effect but a reflection of intrinsically different evolutionary stages. Moreover, the results are also consistent with the idea of an increase in the jet ejection velocity as the post-AGB evolution proceeds.

Context. Maser emission of SiO, H₂O, and OH is widespread in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars with oxygen- (O-) rich envelopes. This emission quickly disappears during the post-AGB phase and is extremely rare in planetary nebulae (PNe). So far, only eight PNe have been confirmed to show OH and/or H₂O maser emission, and none have ever been found to show SiO maser emission. Aims. We intend to obtain the first detection of a SiO maser from a PN. Such a detection would provide us with a useful tool to probe mass loss in PNe at a scales of a few AU from the central star, much shorter than the scales traced by H₂O or OH masers. Methods. We compiled two different samples. The first one comprises all known PNe with confirmed OH and/or H₂O maser emission, as well as two candidate PNe showing OH masers. For the second sample, we compiled single-dish SiO maser detections in the literature, and compared them with catalogs of PNe and radio continuum emission (which could trace photoionized gas in PNe). We identified five targets (either PN or radio continuum sources) within the beam of the single-dish SiO maser observations. We then carried out interferometric observations of both samples with the Australia Telescope Compact Array, to confirm the spatial association between continuum and SiO maser emission. Results. We find no SiO maser emission associated with any confirmed or candidate PN. In all targets, except IRAS 17390–3014, there is no spatial coincidence between SiO masers and radio continuum emission. While in IRAS 17390–3014 we cannot completely rule out a possible association, it is unlikely that the radio continuum emission arises from a PN. Conclusions. The absence of SiO maser emission in PNe showing OH or H₂O masers is of special interest, since thermal SiO emission has been reported in at least one of these targets, indicating that SiO molecules can be present in the gas phase. Since some maser-emitting PNe show evidence of having O-rich outer envelopes, and carbon- (C-) rich central stars and inner envelopes, we speculate that SiO abundance could be very low in the central regions where physical conditions are optimal for maser pumping, and C-bearing molecules may be dominant in the gas phase at those locations.

IRAS 22568+6141 has been classified as a low-excitation planetary nebula (PN) and presents non-thermal radio continuum emission, which could be a signature of a nascent PNe. We present intermediate-resolution long-slit spectra obtained in 2021 and 2023, high-resolution long-slit spectra taken in 2023, and a light curve at the r filter between 1953 and 2019. They all reveal changes in IRAS 22568+6141 with timescales of decades and a few years. The object underwent an energetic event around 1990 that suddenly increased its brightness, which has been fading since then. A comparison with a published spectrum from 1988 shows an increase in the Hβ flux in 2021 by factor of ≃6 and the [O III] emission lines, which were absent in 1988. Between 2021 and 2023, the Hβ flux decreased by a factor of ≃1.7, and the [O III] emission lines almost vanished. These results and the variability observed in other emission lines indicate that IRAS 22568+6141 was recombining and cooling between 2021 and 2023, and probably since 2005, as suggested by archival radio continuum and mid-IR observations. The intermediate- and high-resolution spectra show that the excitation of the emission lines was dominated by shocks in 2021 and 2023, and probably also in 1988, which may be related to the non-thermal radio continuum emission from the object. Although the variability might be due to changes in the physical conditions in the shocks or in a nova-like eruption, it better accommodates that expected from a late thermal pulse, which is further suggested by a comparison with other similar objects. New observations and monitoring in the coming years are crucial to corroborate the origin of the variability.

Maser emission of SiO, H$_2$O and, OH is widespread in Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars with oxygen(O)-rich envelopes. This emission quickly disappear during the post-AGB phase and is extremely rare in planetary nebulae (PN). So far, only eight PNe have been confirmed to show OH and/or H$_2$O maser emission, and none has ever been found to show SiO maser emission. We intend to obtain the first detection of a SiO maser from a PNe. Such a detection would provide us with a useful tool to probe mass-loss in PNe at a scales of a few AU from the central star, much shorter than the scales traced by H$_2$ or OH masers. We compiled two different samples. The first one comprises all known PNe with confirmed OH and/or H$_2$O maser emission, as well as two candidate PNe showing OH masers. For the second sample we compiled single-dish SiO maser detections in the literature, and compared them with catalogs of PNe and radio continuum emission (which could trace photoionized gas in a PNe). We identified five targets (either PN or radio continuum sources) within the beam of the single-dish SiO maser observations. We then carried out interferometric observations of both samples with the Australia Telescope Compact Array, to confirm the spatial association between continuum and SiO maser emission. We found no SiO maser emission associated with any confirmed or candidate PN. In all targets, except IRAS 17390$-$3014, there is no spatial coincidence between SiO masers and radio continuum emission. While in IRAS 17390$-$3014 we cannot completely rule out a possible association, it is unlikely that the radio continuum emission arises from a planetary nebula. The absence of SiO maser emission in PNe showing OH or H$_2$O masers is of special interest, since thermal SiO emission has been reported in at least one of these targets, indicating that SiO molecules can be present in gas phase.

We study the physics of the ionized gas in the last stages of evolution of low- and intermediate-mass stars that end their lives as planetary nebulae (PNe). Specifically, those that are in the earliest stages of the PN phase. For this purpose, we observed with the Australia Telescope Compact Array the spectra at radio frequencies of a sample of (H₂O and/or OH) maser-emitting PNe. We determined the spectral index of the radio continuum emission of these sources and the turnover frequency of the emission, which could be tied to the age of the sources.

OH masers are signpost of planetary nebulae (PNe) at a very young stage. In particular, Vy 2-2 was the first OH maser-emitting PN ever identified. It consists of a bright compact shell and a faint bipolar structure. The reported values for its O⁺²/H⁺ abundance discrepancy factor (ADF) are inconsistent:; 4.3, and; 11.8. To characterize the ionized gas and to redetermine the ADF(O⁺²), we have obtained medium-resolution optical spectra. We found that the ionized gas is oxygen-rich (C/O; 0.15), and an ADF(O⁺²); 13.6. Also, the N/O abundance ratio is; 0.39, implying a low-mass progenitor (M_i ≤ 1.5 M_e). Unexpectedly, the detection of stellar weak emission lines (wels) suggests that the central star is carbon-rich. Alternatively, the wels may be emitted by an irradiated companion in a post-common envelope system. We have also obtained high-resolution optical spectroscopy on Vy 2-2. Our spectra kinematically resolve the bright shell and bipolar structure. We found that these expand at: 10 and: 20 km s^-1, respectively.

Eight planetary nebulae (PNe) are known to emit OH and/or H₂O masers, but there is no report of an SiO maser in this type of objects. We present a search for SiO masers in 16 confirmed and candidate PNe, carried out with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. We found no evidence of association between SiO masers and PNe in our data. Previous detections of thermal SiO emission in PNe show that these molecules can be present in gas phase in this type of objects, but it is not yet clear whether they can be found where the physical conditions are appropriate for maser pumping. We suggest that the best candidates for a new search would be PNe showing high-velocity outflows.

Planetary nebulae (PNe) harbouring masers of H₂O (H₂OPNe) and/or OH (OHPNe) are thought to be nascent PNe. They are extremely scarce, and so far only eight members are know to date. Here we explain our current effort to identify new H₂OPNe and/or OHPNe. We report IRAS 07027–7934 as a new bona fine OHPN. Its 1612 MHz OH spectrum seems to be changing from double- to single-peaked since the redshifted emission has vanished almost completely, and the 1667 MHz OH maser emission has disappeared. For the OHPN Vy 2-2, we found that its central star is unexpectedly carbon (C)-rich, has a low-mass progenitor, and could be a post-common envelope binary system. Moreover, we confirm Vy 2-2 as a nascent PN. We speculate that low-mass C-rich central stars in post-common envelope systems could be a common end of H₂OPNe and OHPNe.