The dispersal of circumstellar discs: the role of the ultraviolet switch
Abstract
We explore ultraviolet switch models for the dispersal of circumstellar discs in T Tauri stars that involve both photoevaporation by the central star and viscous evolution. We show that in combination these processes generate the observed `two-time-scale' behaviour for the dispersal of such discs, whereby the disc is rapidly dispersed at the end of its life on a time-scale that is a small fraction of the disc lifetime. This switch is activated when the accretion rate through the disc declines to a low level (a few times 10-10Msolaryr-1) such that it roughly matches the rate of photoevaporative mass loss from the disc outside 5-10au. At this point, the inner disc is deprived of further replenishment from larger radii and empties on to the central star on its own short viscous time-scale. This causes the rapid (~105-yr) decline in accretion rate on to the central star and in all disc-related emission shortward of 10μm. We discuss the implications of this model for the detection of millimetre emission around weak-line T Tauri stars, and also point out the consequences of such a sudden draining for planet formation in the inner regions of circumstellar discs.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- December 2001
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2001MNRAS.328..485C
- Keywords:
-
- ACCRETION;
- ACCRETION DISCS;
- CIRCUMSTELLAR MATTER;
- PLANETARY SYSTEMS: FORMATION;
- STARS: PRE-MAIN-SEQUENCE