Kaleidoscope of irradiated disks: VLT/MUSE observations of proplyds
The evolutionary pathways of protoplanetary disks, the birthplaces of planets, differ depending on the surrounding environment. Near OB-type stars, UV radiation affects disks via external photoevaporation, depleting the disk outside-in and severely shortening disk lifetimes. The most instructive evidence of this effect is provided by resolved observations of irradiated disks, known as “proplyds”.
I will present results based on the VLT/MUSE IFU data of a dozen proplyds in the Orion Nebula Cluster. This sample allows us to study the morphology of proplyds in a wealth of emission lines, and to measure the parameters describing their evolution, such as the mass-loss rate. I will also show how characterizing nearby proplyds sets a precedent for studying more distant and massive star-forming regions.