New Light on Young Stars:
Spitzer's View of Circumstellar Disks

Debris disk census from 5 Myrs to 5 Gyrs

First Author:
John Carpenter
Email: jmc AT astro.caltech.edu
Caltech
Department of Astronomy
Mail Code 105-24
Pasadena CA 91125 USA

Abstract

As an extension of the IRAS and ISO heritage, the Spitzer Space Telescope has conducted a comprehensive census of the debris disk phenomenon around nearby stars. I will review the large number of surveys that have been conducted with Spitzer and summarize the observed properties of debris disks around main sequence stars. In particular, I will emphasize i) how the frequency and luminosity of debris disks varies with spectral type and stellar age; ii) the range of dust temperatures in debris systems; and iii) the relationship of debris disks to extrasolar planets.
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