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Planetary nebulae and determination of the bulge–disk boundary

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2013

Roberto D. D. Costa
Affiliation:
Departamento de Astronomia, IAG, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão 1226, 05508-090, São Paulo/SP, Brazil email: roberto@astro.iag.usp.br, cavichia@astro.iag.usp.br, maciel@astro.iag.usp.br
Oscar Cavichia
Affiliation:
Departamento de Astronomia, IAG, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão 1226, 05508-090, São Paulo/SP, Brazil email: roberto@astro.iag.usp.br, cavichia@astro.iag.usp.br, maciel@astro.iag.usp.br
Walter J. Maciel
Affiliation:
Departamento de Astronomia, IAG, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão 1226, 05508-090, São Paulo/SP, Brazil email: roberto@astro.iag.usp.br, cavichia@astro.iag.usp.br, maciel@astro.iag.usp.br
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Abstract

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In this paper, a sample of planetary nebulae in the Galaxy's inner-disk and bulge is used to find the galactocentric distance that optimally separates these two populations in terms of their abundances. Statistical distance scales were used to investigate the distribution of abundances across the disk–bulge interface, while a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to find the distance at which the chemical properties of these regions separate optimally. The statistical analysis indicates that, on average, the inner population is characterized by lower abundances than the outer component. Additionally, for the α-element abundances, the inner population does not follow the disk's radial gradient toward the Galactic Center. Based on our results, we suggest a bulge–disk interface at 1.5 kpc, marking the transition between the bulge and the inner disk of the Galaxy as defined by the intermediate-mass population.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2013

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