EVIDENCE FOR MASS-DEPENDENT CIRCUMSTELLAR DISK EVOLUTION IN THE 5 Myr OLD UPPER SCORPIUS OB ASSOCIATION

摘要

We present 4.5, 8, and 16 μm photometry from the Spitzer Space Telescope for 204 stars in the Upper Scorpius OB association. The data are used to investigate the frequency and properties of circumstellar disks around stars with masses between ～0.1 and 20 solar mass at an age of ～5 Myr. We identify 35 stars that have emission at 8 or 16 μm in excess of the stellar photosphere. The lower mass stars (～0.1-1.2 solar mass) appear surrounded by primordial optically thick disks based on the excess emission characteristics. Stars more massive than ～1.8 solar mass have lower fractional excess luminosities suggesting that the inner ～10 AU of the disk has been largely depleted of primordial material. None of the G and F stars (～1.2-1.8 solar mass) in our sample have an infrared excess at wavelengths ≤ 16 μm. These results indicate that the mechanisms for dispersing primordial optically thick disks operate less efficiently, on average, for low-mass stars, and that longer timescales are available for the buildup of planetary systems in the terrestrial zone for stars with masses approx < 1 solar mass.