Rebrightening of Planetary Nebulae Through Interaction with the Interstellar Medium

Abstract

AbstractThe interaction of planetary nebulae (PNe) with the interstellar medium (ISM) as they move through it is now acknowledged to be a major shaping effect not just for ancient and large PNe, but also for relatively young PNe with high-speed central stars. The most common effect is a rebrightening as the PN shell interacts with a pre-existing bow-shock structure formed during the previous evolutionary phase of the central star. In this review we consider this rebrightening in detail for the first time and discuss its origins, highlighting some observed examples. We go on to discuss the AGB progenitor stars, reviewing the evidence for bow-shock structures, and consider the progeny of rebrightened PNe — strongly disrupted objects which bear very little resemblance to typical PNe. Sh 2-68 is inferred to be perhaps the only documented case so far of such a PN.