Dynamics of the Galactic Bulge using a new Planetary Nebulae sample

Abstract

PN are excellent tracers for Galactic bulge dynamical studies because they are less affected by metallicity bias than other tracers and have strong emission lines permitting accurate velocity determinations. Due to the relatively small numbers previously known throughout the Galaxy (i.e. ~1500) compared to those expected ~20000+) their potential as tracers of galactic structure and as windows to stellar evolution in the critical phase between PN and White Dwarf has only been partially realized. Furthermore, the number of bulge PN available for such studies has, until now, also been quite small (e.g. Zijlstra et al. 1997 and Beaulieu et al. 1999) so their potential as test particles of bulge dynamics and PN evolution also remains largely unrealised. We present our new PNe sample and an axisymmetrical model of the Bulge that we will be able to constrain.