2006/09/06 by Nick Siegler, James Muzerolle, Erick T. Young +5 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Cluster (spacecraft) #Debris #Debris disk #Luminosity #Open cluster #Planetesimal #Stars #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/509042
published as Astrophys.J.654:580-594,2006 · total 23 pages including 7 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
arxiv created 2006/09/06 · openalex publication_date 2006/12/29 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present 24 μm Spitzer MIPS photometric observations of the ~50 Myr open cluster IC 2391. Thirty-four cluster members ranging in spectral type from B3 to M5 were observed in the central square degree of the cluster. Excesses indicative of debris disks were discovered around one A star, six FGK stars, and possibly one M dwarf. For the cluster members observed to their photospheric limit, we find a debris disk frequency of 10 % for B-A stars and 31 % for FGK stars using a 15% relative excess threshold. Relative to a model of decaying excess frequency, the frequency of debris disks around A-type stars appears marginally low for the cluster's age while that of FGK stars appears consistent. Scenarios that may qualitatively explain this result are examined. We conclude that planetesimal activity in the terrestrial region of FGK stars is common in the first ~50 Myr and decays on timescales of ~100 Myr. Despite luminosity differences, debris disk evolution does not appear to depend strongly on stellar mass.