Quantitative spectroscopy of central stars of planetary nebulae

Theoretical models of PN and PN central-star evolution are developed on the basis of published observational data from quantitative spectroscopy. The fundamental principles of the model-atmosphere method are reviewed; the log g vs log Teff diagram for H-rich central stars is constructed; the problematic case of EGB 5 is discussed; and consideration is given to spectroscopic distance estimates, kinematic PN ages, age estimates based on evolutionary computations for stars leaving the AGB, photospheric He abundances, and the discrepancy between observed and theoretically calculated Zanstra ratios (the ratio of the number of ionizing photons to the stellar continuum flux at 548 nm). 27 references