Constraining X-ray-Induced Photoevaporation of Protoplanetary Disks Orbiting Low-Mass Stars

TL;DR

This study investigates how X-ray radiation from young low-mass stars influences the dispersal of their surrounding protoplanetary disks, using X-ray observations to estimate photoevaporation rates.

Contribution

It provides new constraints on X-ray-induced photoevaporation rates of disks around low-mass stars based on observational data.

Findings

X-ray radiation significantly impacts disk dispersal timescales

Quantitative estimates of photoevaporation rates derived from X-ray data

Implications for planet formation around low-mass stars

Abstract

Low-mass, pre-main sequence stars possess intense high-energy radiation fields as a result of their strong stellar magnetic activity. This stellar UV and X-ray radiation may have a profound impact on the lifetimes of protoplanetary disks. We aim to constrain the X-ray-induced photoevaporation rates of protoplanetary disks orbiting low-mass stars by analyzing serendipitous XMM-Newton and Chandra X-ray observations of candidate nearby (D $<$ 100 pc), young (age $<$ 100 Myr) M stars identified in the GALEX Nearby Young-Star Survey (GALNYSS).