Photoionization Models for Planetary Nebulae: Comparison of Predictions by NEBULA and CLOUDY

The Galactic planetary nebulae emit many strong recombination and forbidden lines. By analyzing such lines, the physical condition of the planetary nebulae has been inferred using the strategically important diagnostic line ratios. In order to fully understand the physical condition of a planetary nebula and to derive its chemical abundances, the photoionization model codes, e.g., CLOUDY and NEBULA, were employed for an analysis of gaseous nebular spectra. For the well-studied, relatively simple planetary nebula NGC 7026, theoretical investigation was done with about the same input parameters in models. The predictions made by both codes seem to be in good accord. However, the predicted physical conditions, such as electron temperature and density, are slightly different. Especially, the electron temperatures are predicted to be higher in CLOUDY, which may cause a problem in chemical abundance determination. Our analysis shows that the main discordance may occur due to the diffuse radiation.