Browsing by Author "Backman, D. E."

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    Evolution of mid-infrared excess around sun-like stars: constraints on models of terrestrial planet formation
    (IOP Publishing, 2008-01-09) Meyer, M. R.; Carpenter, J. M.; Mamajek, E. E.; Hillenbrand, L. A.; Hollenbach, D.; Moro-Martin, A.; Kim, J. S.; Silverstone, M. D.; Najita, J.; Hines, D. C.; Pascucci, I.; Stauffer, J. R.; Bouwman, J.; Backman, D. E.; University of Arizona; California Institute of Technology; Harvard University; Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; Smithsonian Institution; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA); NASA Ames Research Center; Princeton University; National Optical Astronomy Observatory; Max Planck Society; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    We report observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope regarding the frequency of 24 mm excess emission toward Sun-like stars. Our unbiased sample is composed of 309 stars with masses 0.7-2.2 M-circle dot and ages from, < 3 Myr to > 3 Gyr that lack excess emission at wavelengths <= 8 mu m. We identify 30 stars that exhibit clear evidence of excess emission from the observed 24 mu m/8 mu m flux ratio. The implied 24 mu m excesses of these candidate debris disk systems range from 13% (the minimum detectable) to more than 100% compared to the expected photospheric emission. The frequency of systems with evidence for dust debris emitting at 24 mu m ranges from 8.5%-19% at ages < 300 Myr to < 4% for older stars. The results suggest that many, perhaps most, Sun-like stars might form terrestrial planets.