The ∑ - D analysis of recently detected radio planetary nebulae in the Magellanic Clouds (Research Note)

Abstract

Aims. We investigate and analyze the radio surface brightness to diameter (∑-D) relation for recently detected, bright radio-continuum planetary nebulae (PNe) in the Magellanic Clouds (MC). Methods. We applied a Monte Carlo analysis in order to account for sensitivity selection effects on measured ∑ - D relation slopes for bright radio PNe in the MCs. Results. In the ∑ - D plane, these radio MCs PNe are positioned among the brightest of the nearby Galactic PNe and are close to the D-2 sensitivity line of the MCs radio maps. The fitted Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) data slope appears to be influenced by survey sensitivity. This suggests the MCs radio PN sample represents just the "tip of the iceberg" of the actual luminosity function. Specifically, our results imply that sensitivity selection tends to flatten the slope of the ∑ - D relation. Although MCs PNe appear to share the evolution properties of Galactic PNe, the small number of data points prevented us from further constraining their evolution properties. © ESO 2009.