Disk survey in the Serpens star-forming region: Environmental effects in nearby star-forming regions
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The external environment where protoplanetary disks are embedded regulates disk evolution. External irradiation, which heats and evaporates gas, as well as frequent stellar encounters, which truncate disks, can reduce disk sizes and masses. Disk surveys in nearby star-forming regions with various environments can help us understand how external environments impact disk evolution. The Serpens star-forming region, which is thought to be dense but not highly irradiated by massive stars, is an ideal laboratory for studying the dynamical effects on disk properties. We aim to study how dynamical interactions modify disk dust masses by comparing the Serpens star-forming region (distance sim400 pc) with other nearby star-forming regions through their disk masses and 3D stellar densities. We surveyed 321 class I to III young stellar objects in Serpens using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) at a resolution of ∼ 0. We measured disk dust masses from millimeter observations under the optically thin assumption and recomputed the 3D stellar density using Gaia data. We applied the same method to other nearby star-forming regions for direct comparison with Serpens. The cumulative disk dust mass distribution of Serpens is similar to those of similarly aged nearby star-forming regions, such as Lupus and Taurus. Along with a reassessment of the 3D stellar density, it suggests that Serpens is not likely to have experienced strong tidal truncation capable of producing lower disk dust masses. We also find that the low disk dust mass tension in Ophiuchus and Corona Australis can be resolved when only disks explicitly identified as members of young (1-2 Myr) sub-clusters are considered. Disks without Gaia identifications, especially in Ophiuchus, are spatially clustered in the 2D projected sky plane and less massive than nearby disks with Gaia identifications. This may trace the effects of tidal truncation in denser environments at earlier evolutionary stages.
Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,865
OpenAlex ID: W7208761783