Invited Talk abstract details

Role of Magnetic Fields in Emerging Paradigms of Shaping and Launching Planetary Nebulae
Blackman, E.

Abstract

Observations now reveal that many, if not all, post AGB stellar systems evolve through a powerful aspherical outflow phase. Such outflows require a sufficient engine rotational energy and a mechanism to channel this rotational energy into collimated outflows. This suggest a symbiosis between binary interactions and magnetic fields and physical mechanisms that are likely prevalent in other jet sources in astrophysics as well. I discuss how magnetohydrodynamic outflows might arise in pre-planetary and planetary nebulae and the role of binary driven accretion mechanisms vs isolated stellar dynamos. I discuss the difference between the launch and propagation regions, the evidence for magnetic fields, and many open questions. Not yet ruled out is a paradigm in which accretion onto the primary post-AGB white dwarf core from a low mass binary powers the outflows all the way from the pre-planetary nebulae to the planetary nebulae stages.