X-ray emission from Planetary Nebulae. I. Spherically symmetric numerical simulations

Abstract

(abridged) The interaction of a fast wind with a spherical Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) wind is thought to be the basic mechanism for shaping Pre-Planetary Nebulae (PPN) and later Planetary Nebulae (PN). Due to the large speed of the fast wind, one expects extended X-ray emission from these objects, but X-ray emission has only been detected in a small fraction of PNs and only in one PPN. Using numerical simulations we investigate the constraints that can be set on the physical properties of the fast wind (speed, mass-flux, opening angle) in order to produce the observed X-ray emission properties of PPNs and PNs. We combine numerical hydrodynamical simulations including radiative cooling using the code FLASH with calculations of the X-ray properties of the resulting expanding hot bubble using the atomic database ATOMDB. In this first study, we compute X-ray fluxes and spectra using one-dimensional models. Comparing our results with analytical solutions, we find some agreements and many disagreements. In particular, we test the effect of different time histories of the fast wind on the X-ray emission and find that it is determined by the final stage of the time history during which the fast wind velocity has its largest value. The disagreements which are both qualitative and quantitative in nature argue for the necessity of using numerical simulations for understanding the X-ray properties of PNs.