The close binary central star of the planetary nebula Abell 41 - A helium-rich subdwarf primary

Abstract

He II, He I, and H absorption features were detected in spectroscopy with 2 A resolution of the Abell 41 planetary nebula central star, which was recently reported by Grauer and Bond to be a close binary with a 2 hour 43 minute period. This subdwarf O spectrum has been analyzed with a grid of hot, high-gravity, LTE atmosphere models. T(eff) = 50,000 + or 5000 K, log g = 6 + or - 1, n(He)/n(H) = 10 exp -1.0 + or - 1. This temperature is a factor of 1.4-2.9 lower than the range used by Grauer and Bond, and the required secondary star heating is considerably reduced. Nevertheless, close agreement is found with their estimates for the distance, reddening, and the systemic parameters for the binary star. Their interpretation of Abell 41 as a precataclysmic variable object remains valid for a cool main-sequence or hotter evolved secondary star. The object should be a promising target for high-resolution (coude/echelle) follow-up spectroscopy.